PUPILS from schools across the North-East brought their detective skills to bear after being set an unusually hot challenge by a university.

Eight sixth-form teams were tasked with solving the mystery of how an old lady had been poisoned - home-made curry or a badly washed lettuce?

The mystery is part of a popular competition aimed at attracting youngsters into the sciences.

The young scientists were challenged by experts at the University of Sunderland's school of health, natural and social sciences.

Using their knowledge of chemistry, the pupils had to analyse samples of lettuce, curry and water and work out whether it was bad cooking or bad luck that killed the unfortunate old lady.

Judges from the university's chemistry department said standards were very high in this, the 15th year of the competition.

The winners, Park View Community School in Chester-le-Street, will battle it out with other regions for a chance of reaching the national finals this summer at Kingston University, in London.

University chemist Roger Reeve, who organised the competition, said: "The event is to show pupils that science is fun and that it is relevant to our day to day lives.

"Everyone enjoyed themselves and the competition produced a very high standard."