Scouts from 10th Chippenham Air Scouts and teams from Chippenham’s Abbeyfield School have won places in the national final of a rocket competition.

The UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge is organised by trade organisation ADS Group to encourage young people to consider careers in aerospace.

The three teams will compete against each other and 18 other finalists on June 25, for the chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to Disneyland Paris and the Airbus Toulouse site.

Christopher Jones, Air Scout leader said: “The rocketry challenge is a unique way of firing young people’s imaginations.

The challenge was to build a rocket that could achieve a height of 825ft and have a flight duration of between 48 and 50 seconds, and launch a hen’s egg to return safely to earth by parachute. It also had to conform to a weight limit.

Abbeyfield science teacher Jon Pickering said: “It is a very tough competition; both teams have done really well in getting this far and I know they are all very excited about taking part in the UK final.”

The national winner will represent the country at the International Rocketry Challenge against US and French finalists at the Farnborough International Airshow 2014 on July 18.

Chippenham MP Duncan Hames said: “ I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that these bright, enthusiastic young people go forward to the international final.”

Any 11 to 21-year-olds interested in a career in aerospace and defence can apply for a free ticket for Futures Day at Farnborough Airshow on July 18 at www.adsfarnborough.co.uk/futures