Four High Wycombe school pupils were named runners up in a science competition.

James Essex, Kit Walker, Jacob Walker-Morecroft and Chris Entwisle, Year 13 students from John Hampden Grammar School, were the runners up of the senior engineering category of The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition, for their project ejection seat arm restraint.

The project looked at the issue of a pilot ejecting at high velocities. The speed of the airflow on the body during this process causes the arms to splay to the sides, which can cause fractures.

The restraint is a mechanism to prevent a fast jet pilot’s arms from injury when ejecting at high velocities. It works by using high pressure air that is tapped off the rockets that propel the seat out of the aircraft.

More than 500 finalists from across the country were chosen to show their ideas at The Big Bang Fair, where 10 were then shortlisted to pitch Dragon’s Den-style to a panel of VIP judges - including Dallas Campbell (The Gadget Show and Bang Goes The Theory TV presenter) and Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon (Co-founder of STEMettes).

The Big Bang Competition is an annual contest designed to recognise and reward young people's achievements in all areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), as well as helping them build skills and confidence in project-based work.

The pupils win £250 in prize money to continue on their STEM journey, as well as a trophy and certificate.

The team reached the UK finals after winning a place in the online heats.

Hilary Leevers, chief executive of EngineeringUK, which organises The Big Bang Competition, said: “A huge congratulations to James, Kit and Jacob whose innovative project has seen them awarded as the senior runner-up in the engineering category.

“It certainly bodes well for the future that the scientists, engineers and inventors of tomorrow are already producing such astute and creative project work.”