A SCHOOL and windfarm company have joined forces ahead of an epic town centre soapbox challenge.

Children from Greengate Junior School and a team of apprentices from Ørsted Energy have partnered up to design and build a contraption for the Barrow BID Super Soapbox Challenge, due to take place in the summer.

Pupils have already put their engineering nous to the test after Ørsted set them the task of designing the soapbox.

After a competition in school, the company selected three winning designs by Declan Dockrey, Alfie Haigh and Lauren Wood.

The children were delighted to receive prizes of an Ørsted goody bag - and a helicopter ride around the local area.

Deputy headteacher Paula Hillman: “It is really exciting to be working with Ørsted on this.

“One of the staff members at school knew someone who worked there and luckily for us they said they would work with us.

“The children really enjoyed designing the soapbox.

“Ørsted said Declan could have a job with them in the future because his design was so good.

“There was such a buzz when the company announced the winners would be getting a helicopter ride as their prizes.”

Year Five pupils will also be doing an engineering project in class focusing on the soapbox.

Some of the children visited Ørsted apprentices on Thursday to check the progress on the soapbox.

They tightened bolts and inflated tyres on the skeleton structure.

The soapbox race will take place on Dalton Road on June 29.

Mrs Hillman added: “We are really excited for the soapbox race and will be out in support on the day.

“A few of the teachers really want to be the driver and are fighting it out among themselves.”

An array of engineering teams will battle it out for the soapbox crown in an event which Barrow Business Improvement District says could boost the town’s economy by more than £1 million.

Ski jumping legend Eddie the Eagle will lead the challenge out.