YOUNG designers in Hertfordshire are getting wired up to battle it out next week during national Design and Technology Week at the Wheathampstead Development Centre.

Young innovative inventors will gather in Wheathampstead from Monday, June 24, to Friday, June 28, and Hertfordshire County Council is staging a range of special events aimed at children from the youngest pupils to secondary students.

County advisor for design and technology David Allen said: "All the children will make something to take home and we hope the teachers taking part will be able to share the knowledge they've gained with the rest of their pupils.

"We have been very pleased with the response to the whole event so far.

"Demand for places was so great that we oversubscribed three times and are already looking ahead to next year."

Several schools are also travelling to John F Kennedy Secondary School in Hemel Hempstead to use its facilities.

Infants are going to be having fun with paper engineering and make pop-up cards or finger puppets.

Primary school children can choose between designing a flashing badge, looking at food technology or programming a real robot.

Secondary school students will be working on several projects including a session on electronic products with a team from Sheffield Hallam University.

There will be 25 schools across Hertfordshire taking part in the various activities.

Schools from this area that are taking part include Manland Primary School, the Grove Infant and Nursery School in Harpenden and Heathlands Special School in St Albans.

Also taking part will be pupils from Beech Hyde Primary School in Wheathampstead, who wll be working on their food technology project on Tuesday, June 25.

Beech Hyde headteacher Delia Bonner said: "We have a healthy eating policy at our school and this is a great opportunity for ten and 11 year olds to learn more about health and hygiene when in the kitchen.

"In a small primary school we've got limited space, so it is wonderful to be able to go to a secondary school and use their facilities."

June 19, 2002 17:30