NORTH Tawton Beavers group and a professor of civil engineering at Exeter University have teamed up to build a 24-foot long suspension bridge.
The beavers were set a task to build a bridge by the scouting organisation as part of the Millennium Chase Challenge and so they acquired the services of Professor Bill Harvey from Exeter University who managed to get a grant from the Institute of Structural Engineers to set the project on its way.
Beaver leader Sue Molyneux has praised Mr Harvey who came to four beaver sessions with slides and equipment to show the children exactly how he would build the bridge.
'He was brilliant,' she said. 'He really came up trumps for us. It took him 30 hours to design the bridge and 20 hours to make all the pieces up and he really did do a fantastic job.'
Mrs Molyneux said the beavers, aged from six to eight, helped to put the 'work of art' together and had learnt an awful lot from Mr Harvey.
Such was its success that the professor is going to take the bridge along to other organisations and schools. Anyone who wishes to have a visit should call 01392 499934.