STUDENTS from Minehead Middle School are being challenged to tap into Somerset's natural resources to come up with innovative ways of generating power.

The technical challenge has been handed out by the Rotary Club of Minehead and the Quantocks.

Youngsters will be given the task of designing a power generating scheme using wind, sun, rain or the tide.

Five teams of four students have taken up the challenge and will have until the end of the year to put together their proposals and demonstrate their solutions by building a working model.

The models will be put before a team of experts in December, with three chosen for presentation to Rotarians in January.

Michelle James, the school's STEM co-ordinator, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils who excel in science, maths and design technology to put forward real life solutions to an issue that they will only become more aware of as they get older."

Ms James said the students had already come up with some real 'out of the box' ideas.

"I am looking forward to seeing how they work as a team to come up with some innovative solutions," she said.

"As always, our pupils are more than ready for the challenge."

Pictured with Rotarian Roger Andrews, from left, Ebony Jewel, Kate Nickels, Ben Forster and Rob Speed.

Photo: Steve Guscott