FIVE Kelly College students achieved an impressive second place at the regional finals of the Toyota STEM Solar Car Challenge.

The team's task was to design, build and race an environmentally friendly model vehicle against teams from 120 other South West schools.

The Solar Flares, as the team had branded themselves, excelled during the final, marginally missing out on top spot.

Kelly College's science technician Mark Tailyour said: 'The students who were selected to compete in the regional finals are to be commended for a most extraordinary achievement.

'Out of 120 schools that entered the challenge across the whole of the South West region, the Kelly Solar Flares team, comprising Lydie Jenks, Harry Williams, Oliver Wood, Daniel Gillard and Benjamin Hancox, came a very well earned second — an incredible triumph considering they only had two months, out of the six available, in which to complete the whole exercise.

'The students should feel an additional sense of pride, considering that their car was the fastest and travelled the furthest of all the teams' cars on the day.'