SETTING fire to crisps and biscuits helped young Oxfordshire scientists win a top award.

Pupils from Wolvercote Primary School were awarded a prize for their sports-themed science project by Bill Bryson and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

The Year Five and Six science club won the primary schools category in the RSC Bill Bryson Prize competition 2012 for their presentation, How Does Food Give Us Energy?

The pupils attempted to set fire to Quavers, ginger biscuits and butter and measured the temperature change in water from the fire, to calculate the food’s calorific content.

American travel writer Mr Bryson presented the club with its award for clear science communication at a ceremony at the House of Commons on October 22.

This year’s theme for the competition was Science and Sport, to tie in with the Olympics.

The science club interviewed triathlete Noe Orozco to find out what he eats and drinks to give him energy during training.

Pupils were presented with a certificate and a £10 Amazon voucher each, along with £500 for their school.