A SCOTTISH charity is urging Fife pupils to come up with ideas on how their local high street can be transformed. 

TechFest has announced the return of its Blueprint Challenge, which encourages S3 to S6 pupils to play a role in saving the country's high streets. 

The competition, aligned with the CREST Awards and grounded in STEM, asks students to come up with realistic ideas for regenerating failing high streets.

Sarah Chew, the managing director of TechFest, said: “In the past decade there have been continued discussions, debates and reports on how to transform our high streets and make them fit for the future but despite various thought-provoking think tanks and reports, sadly we have seen little to no action.  

"The Scottish high street is in crisis, and we need urgent action to save them, that is why the TechFest Blueprint Challenge is a huge opportunity to champion the youth voice and help transform how we use our high streets.  

“Young people have a different perspective, and we see them delivering innovative ideas that are creative, thoughtful, full of insight and often surprising."

The competition is open to all S3-S6 students who want to share their ideas on how to create a high street that allows society to thrive while celebrating the natural world at the same time.

TechFest is urging teachers and education staff across Fife to register their teams via the TechFest website.