TAVISTOCK College's Technology Faculty held its annual celebration event, Product of the Year 2013, this month.

The event was attended by several hundred parents and inspired students who came along to see and vote for their favourites in the exhibition.

The hall was full with 72 competition entries spanning categories from product design through to textiles and fashion, food technology and more.

The exhibition was also a competition, with visitors filling out voting cards to select their favourite from the nine different categories on show.

One of the most impressive categories was deemed to be the key stage five group who had created contemporary lighting and a range of other products that were both beautifully made and very innovative in their design. Visitors and students were also given the opportunity to try their hand at controlling and building robots, using augmented reality and computer aided design in the event's 'Tech Zone'.

The college's jazz band and solo musician Tei Daratsa added atmosphere with some fantastic performances. Local businesses joined the event by setting up craft stands and selling their creations.

Tension was high as approximately 2,000 votes were counted and the winners were revealed.

Winners received trophies as well as a toppling pile of prizes generously donated by local businesses, including Towls of Tavistock, The Technology Company, Book Stop, WH Smith, Brigid Foley, Inthetreehouse.co.uk, Orchard Studios, Encore, Past and Present, By Lisabellah and others.

Head of department Pete Keegan presented the awards alongside college principal Helen Salmon.

Mr Keegan said: 'We were delighted by the reaction of all those who visited the event, the hall was buzzing with enthusiasm and pride and people seemed genuinely impressed at the quality of the products on show and the achievements of the students.

'The level of suspense was fantastic when the winners were being revealed. We thoroughly enjoyed this celebration and were so happy to see the inspired and proud faces of the students.'

Parent Chris Williams said: 'I was very impressed by the whole event. Not only by the brilliant design of products and how well finished they were but by the confidence of each designer as they came to life and enthused about their products. The only thing was it was very difficult to choose a favourite among so many excellent designs!'

Rebecca Dickson, winner of the year 10 resistant material category, said: 'I was so proud to be the winner of my category given the stiff competition. It had taken me a long time to perfect my MP3 docking station product so it was very rewarding to win.

'I was also really surprised by the quality of the work, not only in my category but across the whole event, it was really inspiring.'

Overall Product of the Year 2013 went to Roger Blandford, aged 18, with his sycamore display cabinet, inspired by undulating sand dunes.