TWO young bright sparks have been selected for a prestigious engineering programme.

Ellie Stewart and Lily Green, who are both in second year at Notre Dame High School, have been specially chosen to attend the Young WEIR-WISE: Discovering Engineering event at Strathclyde University.

The event is designed to inspire young female students to pursue a career in engineering.

Ellie, 13, said: "Only 100 girls have been selected from across Scotland to take part in this to give us an idea of what a career in engineering would be like.

"I enjoy engineering and science because you're doing something different all the time - I don't like doing the same thing.

"When I was younger I used to read science books instead of playing with toys.

"Science and engineering is just something that I've always wanted to do."

Lily, who is also 13, said she is looking forward to the two day course in January.

She said: "This is really important to me because I don't often get chosen for stuff like this.

"It's a great opportunity.

"I find science and maths really interesting - they are my strongest subjects so I'm looking forward to it."

Mrs Ashleigh Flynn, who is the physics teacher at the school and is also the principal teacher of Developing the Young Workforce, said Ellie and Lily have a bright future ahead of them.

She said: "I was nervous because I knew all the schools in Scotland were putting their pupils forward for this and that only 100 pupils would be chosen.

"So I'm over-the-moon that both Lily and Ellie were selected.

"Both of them are hard working and you can tell they really enjoy science.

"I think it's important to girls to see that there is a career pathway in that field."