PUPILS from Bellefield Primary School have been crowned champions of a Lego Robotics competition.

Ten Year 6 pupils from the Trowbridge school won the Product Design category, beating 23 other schools from Wiltshire, Somerset and Bristol at a competition day held at Hewlett Packard’s laboratory in Bristol on January 11.

The team members, who had to formally apply to be selected, created a device which prevents bats from flying into farmers’ water troughs using sonar technology.

Year 6 teacher Ben Rees said: “Pupils have been working on robotics in lessons ever since entering the competition in September.

“We also ran STEM lessons after school which really helped them get to grips with robotics further and helped develop them to work as team.

“We also had someone from Longleat come in to explain the characteristics of bats which really helped them too.

“This is a great competition because it encourages pupils to stretch their thinking in a different way, which we think is incredibly important at the school.

“In addition to that they all had a fantastic time in Bristol on the competition day. They were thrilled and surprised to win, especially as there were 23 other schools taking part.

“Of the four categories, the Product Design one is probably the most challenging so it was testament to their hard work and determination to win.”

This was the twelfth consecutive year the school entered the competition and the first time they have won.

The victorious pupils showed off their medals and told fellow pupils about their triumph at a school assembly this morning (Monday).