Children at a Cottingley school have won a science competition by using a mixture of drinking straws, fruit pastilles and cocktail sticks.

The budding scientists at Cottingley Primary were asked to use the three materials to make a structure that could support four fun size Mars bars. Their challenge was set in a science competition at Leeds University.

Thirty eight children went to Leeds for the competition, in which they competed against two other schools from the region.

As well as making the structure, they had to act out a play based on previous experiments and take part in a science quiz.

Janet Keefe, key stage two science co-ordinator at the school, said the children were asked to the event after winning an earlier round of the Science Challenge, organised by the Association for Science Education.

"I think it's fantastic," she said. "It shows the children are motivated and want to investigate on their own and that they have enquiring minds. They did it all themselves."