A- level students got hands-on experience of professional scientific and mathematical research.

Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form students Sarah Kendall, aged 24, Fiona Dewhurst and Umair Asif, both 17, joined placements on university summer research projects.

Their involvement was organised by Nuffield Foundation charitable trust.

Sarah worked on a project studying brain damage associated with strokes at Manchester University.

She said: “The experience was brilliant. I loved the lab environment and it confirmed to me I am heading for the right career area.”

Fiona helped research spectroscopy —  how energy interacts with matter —  also at Manchester.

Umair went to the University of Central Lancashire to work on simulating how galaxies form, using computer programming.

Featured image caption: Umair Asif, Fiona Dewhurst and Sarah Kendall helped with university research this summer