PUPILS from Churchfields School rose to the challenge to produce a robot for a scientific expedition to the Arctic.

The Lego Robotics challenge was held at Oakfield Campus at the University of Bath.

The campus was recently in the news with the announcement that university vice-chancellor Prof Glynis Breakwell had succeeded in her bid to have it joined by a purpose-built site near the Great Western Hospital.

Prof Breakwell says she is committed to opening up educational opportunities for as many people as possible in and around Swindon.

The robotics challenge was organised by Wessex Setpoint, part of Access and Continuing Studies at the University of Bath.

Thirty pupils were split into teams of three or four and competed to make the best robot.

Each team used Lego Robotic Inventions construction keys and software to create their robot.

The one-day challenge was to create a robot to help an imaginary doctor carry out experiments in the Arctic.

Pupils had to create a machine that would help the doctor perform as many successful missions as possible in the face of a fierce storm.