The winners of a week-long space programme held by Ayrshire College have been announced.

Around 150 pupils took part in this year's Mission Discovery Ayrshire, which saw students work in teams to design space experiments.

Secondary school pupils and college students developed their experiments over the course of the week, with the help of former Nasa astronaut Michael Foale CBA and Nasa HGs council executive Sarah Murray.

Team three, otherwise known as 'Space Raiders', was announced as the winner with their idea investigating 'The photosynthesis of phytoplankton in microgravity and the generation of electricity'.

Their winning idea will be launched into space next year and tested by astronauts at the International Space Station.

The team was made up of pupils from schools across Ayrshire, including Saint Matthew's Academy, Auchenharvie Academy and Grange Academy.

Team member Lauren McGee, from Belmont Academy, said: "I've always struggled with presenting in front of people and I feel that this week has helped me a lot with that.

"I felt really confident doing it, although I have to say I did not expect this outcome. I'm overwhelmed to be honest!"

The winning experiment from last year is currently on the International Space Station right now being worked on by astronauts Jack Fischer and Peggy Whitson.

Their idea investigates the growth of slime mold across various surfaces in microgravity, and was launched to the International Space Station on June 1 on-board SpaceX CRS-11.

Chair of the Ayrshire College Foundation, Tracey Stark, said: "I came into this week with high expectations having seen the videos from last year and spoken to other Ayrshire College Foundation members, and I've been absolutely blown away by it.

"The Foundation believes the Mission Discovery programme will prove hugely beneficial to Ayrshire by inspiring youngsters to get into STEM."