A BEAMINSTER School student has grabbed a prestigious prize for young engineers and scientists.

Sixth-former Rory Fisher took first prize in the mechanical engineering category for designing and building a foot-operated mechanical prosthetic hand.

For his A-level project Rory custom designed the hand for a friend’s mother who was born without a left hand.

The device, which Rory discussed and demonstrated at the ceremony, enables her to hold and chop small logs into kindling for her wood-burning stove.

Rory cast the claw mechanism from molten aluminium at Beaminster School and created a custom-made carbon fibre neoprene lined sleeve at Yeovil College.

He hopes to go to Cardiff University this autumn to study mechanical engineering. Head of technology at Beaminster School Adrian Barton said he was delighted that Rory’s was one of a number of Beaminster technology projects worthy of entering the competition.

“This is a very prestigious competition and we don’t always have projects that meet the high standard, but this year was a bumper year for engineers at Beaminster,” he said Rory said he was delighted with his award and £300 prize money.

“I’m thrilled to win the prize,” he said.

“But I am delighted and thankful to the teachers at Beaminster and Colfox Sixth Form who have been so great over the last two years.”

Rory intends to spend his winnings on some new tools. Each year The Dorset Asset and Valter Prize Trust award accolades to young scientists and engineers based on their school projects.

The trust was set up in 2003 with the aim to encourage students up to the age of 20.