Youngsters joined car giant Ford for a unique project at the state-of-the-art design centre in Dunton, Basildon.
A group of 20 youngsters from Castle View School on Canvey visited the Ford Engineering Centre to work with engineers on the most important aspect of vehicle design - safety.
Brad Staines, a safety technical specialist and former pupil of the school, said: "The school, holding a science fair as part of a campaign to promote science and technology, came to Ford looking for practical help in demonstrating the relationship between science and everyday life."
The two-day project included pupils studying safety features of the new Ford Cougar coupe.
On the second day, at the school, the youngsters were asked to design, build and test a vehicle that would protect an egg in a crash.
The overall winners were chosen after the students drew up business plans and even crashed their cars.
On the safety scene - Brad Staines with the winning team from Castle View school.
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