Pupils in Surrey are being encouraged to enter the Sustainability Challenge 2010 for a chance to win £250 and help the environment.

Surrey County Council is sponsoring the competition and is open to secondary school pupils studying a subject which contains an element of environmental sustainability.

The challenge is split into two age groups. The junior award is for students in years 7, 8 and 9 and the senior award is for students in years 10, 11, 12 and 13.

The junior award winner will receive £200 and there will be £250 for the senior award winner.

Students will be asked to design products or services which benefit the environment.

The challenge is designed to get young people thinking about reducing demands on energy and water and producing less waste.

Geoff Marlow, chairman of the council, said: "Young people generally have a greater awareness of sustainability issues than we did at their age, but we need to harness that awareness and turn it into action.

"We know young people can be incredibly creative and enthusiastic and I look forward to some very impressive entries."

The entries will be judged at the Festival of Science and Engineering at the Brooklands Museum on June 24.

Brooklands was the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit and is traditionally involved with motor racing and aviation.

Peter Martin, cabinet member for children and learning, said: “Hopefully the awards will inspire students to think about how they can make a difference to the environment and encourage them to select subjects at schools that will help them to sustain this."

The council will be hoping the challenge will inspire young people to choose GCSE, A/AS Level courses or degree subjects like science, mathematics and technology to ensure the county has qualified engineers and scientists for the future.

Andrew Povey, leader of Surrey County Council, has said that sustainability and taking action against climate change must play a key part in the council’s agenda.

To enter, teachers need to register their interest on behalf of students by emailing Kim Bailey at contact.centre@surreycc.gov.uk or calling Adam Hunt at Surrey SATRO on 01483 226322.

The deadline for entries is Monday 31 May.