STUDENTS are gearing up to compete in the national finals of a prestigious competition.

Pupils from the Gilberd School, in Brinkley Lane, Colchester, will take part in the annual VEX UK National Championships, for young engineers and scientists, at the ExCel, in London, from tomorrow to Sunday.

The Gilberd team will compete against 39 other schools in the robotics design competition and three winning teams will go on to compete in the World Championships, in Anaheim, California, later this year.