A pair of budding engineers conquered their sternest test yet to take first prize in an annual contest.

Dominic Winney and Jake Bridges, who study operations engineering at University of Suffolk's East Coast College base in Lowestoft, were given 12 weeks and a budget of just £100 to design, construct and test a scale model of a hydro-electric power generator for their client HydroGen Ltd.

The challenge served as an opportunity for students on the foundation degree course to test their skills as part of the 'Skills in Research and Problem Solving' module, gaining them invaluable experience and enhancing their career prospects.

Mr Winney and Mr Bridges, working under the company name GenServ, particularly impressed the judges in the final stages of the competition when they pitched their ideas to the panel of East Coast College higher education tutors.

'This project posed a challenge to Team GenServ but, using our thorough research and communication skills throughout the process, the project was designed, built and tested successfully,' said Mr Winney.

'All of our hard work and long hours spent working on the project paid off and it was nice to hear positive feedback from the judging panel.

'Jake and I have developed a number of new and existing skills that will enhance our personal portfolios and hopefully make us more desirable and employable in the future.'

The contest was sponsored by Lowestoft-based engineering firm GeoTherm Ltd, who specialise in the monitoring of engineering assets across the UK and worldwide.

The winners had their names engraved on the GeoTherm trophy and were presented with their prize by the judging panel.

Adrian Durrant, lecturer in engineering at East Coast College, said: 'All students who took part performed exceptionally well throughout the competition and can be proud of their achievements.

'It took both rapid learning and a degree of nerve to complete the task on time, on budget and to specification so they have really shown what they are capable of.

'This competition is great for the students because it incorporates experience, team work and communication, among other important aspects of education and work.