FOUR students have reached the final of a future leaders’ contest.

The Durham University students impressed judges in the npower Future Leaders Challenge with their plans for a "switch off weekend".

They plan to encourage residents, fellow students and school children in Durham to switch off electronic devices to combat global warming.

The winners of the competition, to be announced in December, will get a trip to Antarctica to see the effects of climate change first hand.

Oliver Wootton, one of the Durham students, said: "We’re really excited about starting the project now - especially working with kids in our local primary schools and holding a big weekend event in the Market Place.

"We want the whole of Durham to join Operation Power Cut."

More details for the initiative - including the planned date - are expected to be announced soon.