EIGHTY students from schools in Wharfedale and North Yorkshire built bridges with the world of engineering when they took part in the 2015 Rotary Technology Tournament.

The Rotary Clubs in the Dales Group recently held its tenth tournament for schools, at Gargrave Village Hall.

Nineteen teams from schools and colleges from Yorkshire Dales Area from Otley in the east, Ilkley and Skipton, to Settle in the north, took part.

The sponsor, Silsden-based Advanced Actuators Ltd, provided the prizes for the top schools, and also the encouragement for schools and colleges to concentrate on all aspects of a career in engineering.

Student teams are given a task with basic materials, provided such as card, drinking straws, string, and wood and fixing pins, these are provided with details of the project only 30 minutes prior to construction.

This year’s project involved construction of a bridge with fixed and opening spans capable of supporting a 1kg test weight with a model barge able to go under the bridge and a model yacht sailing through the open bridge.

Tournament Organiser, Arnie Read, said: “The challenge combined a number of skills in a fun way. As well as design and technology skills, students have to call on innovation, communication, problem solving, risk taking, and creativity to achieve their goal.”