NINE science high-flyers at Hardenhuish School have set their minds to the creation of a new fireproof waste bin.

The students are part of a team of top achievers identified by the Chippenham school's science department.

They were invited to take part in a number of challenges to celebrate science year, and opted for the BAA Fire Engineering Challenge.

The competition was set up to help students develop an understanding of fire, its causes and the protection measures used in buildings.

The three teams presented their projects on video to the judging panel of BAA, the world's leading airport company, last Wednesday.

Their task was to help the managers of buildings, such as airports, ensure that waste bins did not pose a fire threat. The teams wanted to impress the judges with their research into the causes of fire, and the design of a tough, 40 litre easy-to clean rubbish bin able to suppress fire.

Team one was made up of Barny Shaw, Bruce MacKinnis and Michael Day, with David Keiller, Colin Tonge and Andrew Whyte in team two, and Laurence Gillian, Graeme Collings and Oliver Coleman-Green in team three.

Year 11 mathematicians Claire Fox and Kathryn Davies will be taking part in the International Intermediate Maths Challenge in May, which attracted 160,000 entries across the country.