PUPILS from two York schools took up an unusual challenge at St William's College.

Half a dozen Year Nine pupils from Millthorpe School and Archbishop Holgate School were set the task of building a four-metre high giant tetrahedron, using only rubber bands and short lengths of dowelling.

Chartered civil engineer Mark Whitby, who is president of the Institution of Civil Engineers and whose consultancy designed the York Millennium Bridge, then spoke about space frame structures and how they could be used out in space. The challenge took place during an evening event, attended by at least 100 engineers, organised by the Yorkshire Association of the Institution of Civil Engineers and involving a presentation about the Millennium Bridge.

Updated: 10:38 Saturday, April 13, 2002