STUDENTS rocketed to the finals of a national competition, which saw them make miniature race cars.

Every Year 7 student at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy designed and manufactured the fastest rocket-powered race car. Over 200 schools competed to beat last year's winning speed of 66mph.

Sixteen teams gathered at DACA to see their cars in action; working alongside the academy’s RAF STEM ambassador, Sgt Antony Davenport, the rockets were inserted into the cars, hooked up to the ignition gun and fired down the track.

The winners, with a flying speed of 60mph, was Team Dragonfly.

Both teams qualified for the regional final at Bury Transport Museum. Team Dragonfly ramped up the speed to beat last year’s winners but were beaten by an incredible 90 mph performance by Elton High School in Bury.