After a nail-biting final, one group of lucky pupils have taken the trophy of the First Lego League.

Youngsters of Gosforth Primary School, sponsored by LLWR, trumped their competition and came out on top at the City Shaper-themed regional final, and will make their way down to Bristol to compete in the national final later this month.

The challenge, held at Lakes College, Workington, required pupils to consider a problem faced by a community space, conduct interviews and compare costs and benefits of solutions.

The nine-strong team of Gosforth pupils came up with a solution to their chosen issue of parking, programmed a robot to complete challenges in the second phase of the competition, and after displaying the competition's core values of discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork and fun, they took home the trophy, with LLWR-backed school, Millom coming close behind in second place.

Assistant head teacher at Gosforth Primary School, Sarah Layzell was thrilled with the children, aged nine to 11, and said: "The children were fantastic.

"They were very professional and presented the community project really well, and left the judges very little to ask because they were so thorough."

She added: "The children have grown in confidence, and learned to work together really well during the competition.

"I was in utter disbelief when it was announced we had won, and the children were so pleased – they couldn't believe it. For our tiny school to be one of the schools representing Cumbria in the national finals is amazing.

"The children are really looking forward to going to Bristol now to see the competition on a grander scale and are very excited about staying away for the night!"

Team Gosforth has been watched over by LLWR volunteers Tom Fletcher, Leona Middlehurst, Danielle Boyd, and apprentices Chloe Glaister, Amy Fox and Jade Murphy, who all said they "couldn't be prouder" of the group.

Paul Pointon, LLWR managing director, said: "Four years ago, when Pete Woolaghan, of REACT Engineering, asked us to get involved in First Lego League we were happy to accept and contribute to his vision of one day having 100 Cumbrian schools take part.

"We're proud to play a part in shaping the engineers and problem solvers of tomorrow.

"Best of luck to Gosforth in the final, but, along with Seascale and Millom, they are already winners to us."

Pete Woolaghan, co-founder of REACT Engineering and the charitable REACT Foundation, said: "Through this TeamCumbria approach we are creating a community of like-minded individuals in businesses and organisations across Cumbria who are looking outwards from the county and doing great things.

"This is what Cumbria should be doing more of – giving our amazing young people the opportunity to shine on the national and international stage."

The 2020 national finals are set to take place on February 22, with the winners heading over to the USA to compete in the world finals later this year.