Hundreds of schoolchildren have been learning about the science behind everything from robots to racing cars at a special festival.

Loughborough University staged the Big Bang event yesterday inviting pupils from across the East Midlands to come and see the fun side of engineering and technology.

The youngsters included parties from Rushey Mead School, Moat Community College, Highfields, and New College, New Parks, all in Leicester, plus students from De Lisle Catholic Science College, in Loughborough, and Brockington College, in Enderby.

BBC weatherman Des Coleman was a special guest.

A university spokesman said: "It was a celebration of science and engineering aimed exclusively at children and young people.

"Its main aim is to ignite young people's interest in science, technology, engineering and maths."

The fair was open to 11 to 18-year-olds who have completed a project in any of those subjects and had their efforts judged by industry experts.

It also included hands-on activities and workshops, including one about the controversial Jabulani World Cup football – which was part designed by the university's academics – a nuclear reactor simulator and experiments to explode rubber ducks.

The event was supported by Engineering UK, the British Science Association and Young Engineers, in partnership with Government.