YOUNG robot designers from throughout the UK showcased their talents at Harper Adams University recently, with four students from a Tavistock school being crowned winners in the best team category.

Teenagers were challenged to submit a design to answer the question 'What could robots do for us in the future?'

Competition organiser Lorraine Westwood said: 'We wanted to embrace the innovative power of young people's imaginations.

'The entries were judged on the ideas and the entrants' ability to convey them using a poster, video or website — no method was given preference.

'There were some wonderfully creative ideas, but also some incredibly insightful, practical ones.

'Each and every entrant is to be congratulated for the time and effort they put into the competition, it was a pleasure to review all of the ideas.'

Mount Kelly students Ellie Stanyer, Imogen Allsop, Caitlin Marsh and Jessica Clinton won the best team category with their robot 'Robola' — a robot to comfort and cure victims of the Ebola virus.

Shortlisted entrants were invited to the university for a prize-giving, where they were welcomed by television presenter and engineering enthusiast Rob Bell, who has fronted BBC2's Engineering Giants and Channel Five's Underground Britain.