Thunderbirds were go when women engineers of the future tested their skills at the University of Bradford as part of a two-day course organised by the school of engineering.

Their mission was to rescue a stricken Thunderbird 2 aircraft from the bottom of a pool using a floating platform made to their own design.

More than 30 girls, aged 16 to 17, from all over the country, worked in teams of seven, designing and building the construction.

They had enrolled on the course to find out what it is like to be a professional engineer and how good they were at applying themselves to the task at hand.

Course organiser Joanne Crowther said it gave the girls a chance to find out more about mechanical and civil engineering.

She said: "The course has been over subscribed and we have had to turn girls away. Many of them are set on a career in engineering and it is a fantastic option for them, with real prospects.

"The task is challenging but they are bright girls and I am sure they will achieve it and get results."

Joanne Wood, 17, of Eccleshill in Bradford, said she was looking at a career in engineering.

"The task is quite difficult but we are doing well and have built a decent structure," she said.

The course attracted girls from around the country including London and Northern Ireland.

Hannah Greene, 16, of London, said: "The course was advertised at school and it looked good because it is at a university and it is nice to come somewhere different.

"The task is tricky, you have to think about it and we do not have much time."

The event was part of the Women into Science and Engineering initiative (Wise), which encourages women to consider engineering as a career.

As part of the two-day course the girls also attended presentations by experts at the University.