STUDENTS are celebrating success for their out-of-this-world roller coaster design.

The Life on Mars team from Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School came second in the Siemens school challenge finals.

Two of the school’s Roller Coaster design teams represented the school at an event at Congleton Town Hall.

They had designed and built a working model roller coaster from Knex, made a promotional video and completed a written portfolio for marketing and financing the project.

A school spokesman said: “In total more than 60 teams started the project, and our two teams did remarkably well.

“The judges were very impressed with the end result, and our students were highly praised for the confidence with which they could talk about and present their projects.”

Team Elstrano were praised for their design, and team members Kate Taylor, Isabella Wilson, Ciera Bridge and Maria Lomas for their engineering skills and teamwork.

The spokesman added: “Team Life on Mars – Harrison Jones, Charlotte Braka, Gareth Jones, Ella Nevett and Ed Thirlwell - were amazed but delighted to be awarded second prize overall, and collected their trophy and £50 cheque.

“This is the third year of our involvement with this annual challenge, and we look forward to the next group of students starting their own STEM projects next year.”