CROWDS of hundreds flocked to a hands-on technology evening at Nailsea School.

During the evening parents and pupils used laptops to build virtual bridges, programme Lego Mindstorms robots, balance a ball in mid-air, play with lasers and see sound.

And the grown-ups took on pupils in a fun competition to make the best paper plane which they launched from the atrium balcony.

There was also the opportunity build and race Bloodhound SSC kit cars powered by balloons.

The winning car was built by Nailsea School Year 4 student George Paterson and Louis Lees, of Grove Junior School, which travelled 12.5m.

There were stalls to promote careers in engineering with representatives from Saint-Gobain, Bristol University and Rolls Royce.

Head teacher David New said: "Our technology evenings are always a great success and this was the best yet as the format took full advantage of our partnerships with business and higher education."

Technology students Charlie Hogg and Josh Hayler, Year 8, Amy Peters and Chloe Parsons, Year 9, and Charlie Hook and James Ham, Year 10, collected awards for their school work.

The 1,300-pupil school at Mizzymead Road has specialist technology and media arts status.