CHILDREN are getting to grips with some new playground equipment with a scientific theme — thanks to an innovative experiment from three pupils.

The team of Hamish Harrison-Cushing, Thomas Bradley and Rodolfo Neils-Gervasio, pictured from left, at St Aloysius Primary School in Woodstock Road, Oxford, devised an experiment trying to establish whether ants preferred salty or sweet food.

Judges of the Science Oxford Big Science competition were so impressed with the youngsters’ efforts, they declared them winners — and the school has now received £1,500 of play equipment from Playforce as its prize.

Hamish, 10, said: “It’s a good prize because it’s not just for us, it’s for the whole school.”