PUPILS at Cawthorne Primary School recently took part in a Yorkshire Water-led session on sewer blockages - and personalised LEGO robots were on hand to support the kids.

The session was part of a wider education programme, which is the first of its kind in the water sector, aiming to teach children what can cause blockages in the sewer network through the Blockage Buster Challenge.

During the lesson, the children worked in teams and put their science and engineering skills to the test by building a LEGO robot and programming it to travel around a map tackling blockages caused by wet wipes incorrectly flushed down toilets, and fats, oils and greases disposed of down sinks rather than into kitchen bins.

The school was chosen to take part in the session because Yorkshire Water is set to complete on a £2.5m investment in the nearby Cawthorne Wastewater Treatment Works.

The investment includes the installation of flow monitors, which will monitor the volume of wastewater being treated, and upgrades to site to improve performance.

Anne Reed, social value and education manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “Blockages cost millions of pounds to remove every year, but we’re hopeful that by offering an engaging lesson, the message of what should and shouldn’t be put down the toilet or sink will stick with the children and make its way into their homes.

“At each of the LEGO Education sessions, we find that the children are passionate about the natural world and want to do what they can to protect it.

“It’s a very valuable exercise for us to work with the children to influence the wider community.”