School chairs, empty water containers and wooden planks were put together by students to make rafts that would battle against the sea elements and their peers.

More than 10 students took part in the first ever Queen Elizabeth II High School’s ’World Raft Championship’ during its enrichment week.

Five rafts were constructed from scratch over one-and-a-half days by the different teams, which used recycled materials for the challenge that stretched from Peel slipway to the beach.

Deputy head Jason Coole said: ’It was really good fun. Not all teams were able to finish the race as some had to abandon their rafts and come back. The aim was to make it unaided to shore.

’It was quite interesting as there was a slight breeze, but it was enough to make it really difficult to paddle in. We would’ve been in trouble if the RNLI weren’t there, which gave the children a lesson on how dangerous the water can be.’

Winning this year’s event was team ’Shore’ with Tara Connelly, Madison Alexander and Roo Hyett.

The idea, he said, came from an upcycling project during enrichment week last year where students made items such as bird houses. One student asked whether he could build a raft and got to test it out on the beach. This inspired the organisation of the event.

He thanked the RNLI and Peel harbour master for their support as well as those who donated pieces of wood for project.