YATE and Chipping Sodbury’s emerging talent has been showcased in a competition to find the most innovative students across both towns.

Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club’s now annual Young Innovator of the Year contest has found a wealth of fresh new inventors, cooks, artists and photographers.

Students from Chipping Sodbury School, Brimsham Green School in Yate and Yate International Academy have been working on their entries into seven categories for months.

They were judged by an esteemed panel including Phil Curnock, from Rolls Royce and Ann Murray, from local cookery school Cooking4, at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall last Tuesday (June 24).

The overall winner was named as Alex Hellen, from Chipping Sodbury School, who designed a mailbox.

Holly Bidwell, from Yate International Academy, won first place for product design with an educational toy and Daniel Brown, from Chipping Sodbury School, came first in senior product design for his pop art table.

In textiles, first place for textile technology went to Eleanor Wallace, of Yate International Academy, for her design of a prom dress with a Japanese influence and Chloe Pilgrim, of Chipping Sodbury School, won first in senior product design (textile) for her clothing based on a nature theme.

Lauren England, from Chipping Sodbury School, was first in the food technology category for her gluten-free eggs Benedict and Toni Ann Evans, from Yate International Academy, was chosen as winner of the photography competition for a picture of flowers.

Rotarian John Berridge, who organised the event, said: “It once again showed what talent we have in the young people in our community.

“The increasingly high quality of work is testimony to the students, but also the excellence of their teachers who also deserve our praise.”

Cllr Ian Boulton (Lab, Staple Hill) spoke at the prize-giving ceremony.

He said: “The standard of the entries was extremely high and I hope that the recognition of their efforts motivates the young people to continue their amazing work.”

The seven winners will now have the chance to present their projects and finished pieces of work to Yate and Thornbury MP Steve Webb.