A SCHOOL hosted its biggest robotics competition yet, inviting pupils from across the South East to take part.

St Helena School in Colchester hosted one of the largest VEX IQ Robotics Competitions ever - the Essex Christmas Clash.

There were 30 teams from Years 5 to 8 battling it out with robots they have designed and built.

They were competing in a game called Squared Away, during which robots must pick up squares and move them.

The event was organised by Year 9 student, Seb Jensen, who was given a Volunteer of the Year award by VEX Robotics.

William James, senior science technician at the school, said it was a great event.

He said: “The students have to build the robots so they can play the game, picking up cubes and stacking them.

“We had to hold matches every two minutes between 10am and 3pm to fit all the teams in.

“It was all run by older students in Years 9 to 11.

“They compered and narrated and did the scoring, it was brilliant.”

Several prizes were given out, including for the best robot design.

The teams who won the tournaments will go on to compete in the UK nationals in February.

It will be a two-day event against students from all across the

country.