Around 150 budding engineers from primary schools tested their rocket car and Minibot inventions at a special event at Joseph Whitaker School, Rainworth.

The STEM day — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — included rocket car speed trails and battling Minibots.

Students from Joseph Whitaker supported the competitors and Ravenshead and Blidworth Rotary Club funded the event.

Participants were mainly from primary schools, including Lake View, Rainworth; Ravenshead CofE and Abbey Gates, Ravenshead; Blidworth Oaks and Farnsfield.

The event was well attended and visited by Sherwood MP Mark Spencer.

Rocket cars were tested for their drag factor in a wind tunnel devised and built by Phil Worsley at Joseph Whitaker.

The cars were then fitted with the rocket motor and raced down a 50-metre test track at speeds of up to 30mph, kept on track by a guide wire.

The Minibots, just like in the television programme, were lined up wheel to wheel, facing opposite directions, and manoeuvred by remote control to try to push their opponent off the competition board.