Lego house builders

The bridge builder behind Halton’s new river crossing is giving lessons with Lego to inspire the next generation of civil engineers.

Merseylink – the construction joint venture building the iconic Mersey Gateway bridge – offered the special lessons to local primary schools so children can find out how to become bridge builders when they grow up.

Mersey Gateway volunteers are delivering the creative sessions using Lego to raise awareness of the civil engineering industry with children at an early age.

Youngsters learn what civil engineering is and what civil engineers do, how structures are built and what makes a well-built bridge.

Pupils are then given the opportunity to put their knowledge to the test by using Lego to explore different ways of building bridges.

Widnes Academy West Bank was the first primary school in Halton to host Merseylink’s Lego lesson with pupils from Year 4.

Teacher Anna Myles said: “The children thoroughly enjoyed their morning of Lego bridge building. They were able to develop their creativity and teamwork skills and it has inspired some future budding civil engineers.”

The pupils enjoyed the day and said: “That was the best session ever, I now know what I need to do to be a civil engineer,” and “when I grow up I am going to design a new bridge.”

Karen Nicholson, Merseylink’s liaison Officer, said: “The Mersey Gateway is one of the biggest infrastructure projects currently underway in the UK and it’s right on the doorstep of many local primary schools.

“We hope that by delivering these sessions in a fun and interactive way we will encourage children to think about becoming civil engineers when they are older”.