YOUNG scientists and engineers from Felsted Prep School will represent the East of England for a seventh year at a competition.

Pupils from the school will go to the Big Bang National Finals in March after impressing judges during a regional event at the University of Hertfordshire.

Shesh Abu-Jabir and Hamish Baumber will go the national event after scooping the regional biology prize which uses 3D printing to create a prosthetic hand.

Meanwhile, Felsted's Toby Stringer and Guy Morley Jacob were praised for their initiative to recycle plastic water bottles into reusable string.

The competition recognises talents in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and helps them build skills and confidence in project-based work.

Christina Bury, director of learning at Felsted Prep, said: "These pupils have worked with an enormous amount of perseverance, effort and enthusiasm.

"These projects help to develop scientific knowledge and understanding as well as fostering a sense of creativity, innovation, teamwork and communication skills.

"The pupils thoroughly engage in their scientific projects and learn to lead their research whilst developing their own ideas.

"Many of our students are inspired to take up careers in STEM and these projects are fundamental to developing skills that can be applied in the workplace."