A pair of imaginative students who came up with an idea for ‘eco-parks’ in UK cities has reached the final of a national science competition.

Melih Civici and Hasan Boran of Heathcote School and Science College in Chingford’s Normanton Park fought off tough competition from hundreds of youngsters in The Bright Ideas Challenge, run by Shell.

The duo, known as Team Tech Electrix, drew up plans for parks featuring charging points for electric cars, which would be powered by solar panels and kinetic energy created by an outdoor gym and play equipment in the park.

The aim of the sites, which the boys hope will be dotted around the UK in the future, is to provide self-sustaining energy points at the heart of cities.

The Year 8 students brought the concept to life in a 3D printing and prototyping session with Rachel Riley at Imperial College London’s new Reach Out Maker Space.

Melih said: “Seeing our ideas come to life today has been amazing. It’s hard to believe that our 3D model will now take centre stage alongside energy ideas developed by world leading scientists at Make the Future Live.”

After securing a spot in the final, the boys won £2,500 to develop STEM education at their school and if named as winners, the teens will come away with an additional cash prize of £2,500.

Hasan added: “It’s been really interesting to see how the skills we learn in science and maths can make our world better.

“The whole school is excited about us becoming finalists and abut the new equipment our prize money will buy for our science block.”

As well as becoming finalists in the national competition, Melih and Hasan also won the Societal Impact Award in recognition of the way their eco-park concept improved the quality of life of future city-residents, while creating renewable energy.

Rachel Riley, who is ambassador of The Bright Ideas Challenge, said: “Meeting and working with the finalists from this fantastic competition has been so inspiring. They brought such energy to today’s session.

“It’s really exciting that these young finalists’ 3D designs will be showcased in front of thousands of visitors at Make the Future Live, helping to demonstrate the importance of embracing creative solutions to the huge global energy challenges we face.”

The students’ design will be exhibited at Shell’s festival at Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park which will run from July 5 to 8. The winning team will be announced on Friday (July 6).