A schoolboy's invention for mending broken bones has beaten nearly 10,000 entries from 200 schools to win a national science prize.

Sam Roberts, 11, who goes to Pebmarsh School and is from Lamarsh, came first in his age group in the National Science and Engineering Week competition, with a theme of what the world will be like in 2114.

He said: “'I think I have broken enough bones that I seem to always have a cast on, which is very boring.

“So I thought 'why can't I just grow a new bone?'”

His design involves injecting liquid bone and nitrogen into a broken limb to freeze it while it heals.

Sam, who will be attending Colchester Royal Grammar School in September, said he was surprised to win as he thought his entry was “really scruffy.”

Sam’s mum Ann Roberts said: “We are very proud of Sam, especially as he pefers maths to science so his win was a complete surprise.

“Sam's science co-ordinator, Miss De'Ath, organised brilliant activities for Science Week and Sam was really motivated.”

To fit the futuristic theme, Sam’s prize was a Zoomer robot dog which understands English and can learn tricks like a real pet.