FROM grass stains and muddy sports kits to spilt food and tipped drinks, washing day for parents of ten-year-olds can be a trying experience.

But youngsters in the Valleys have started showing a surprising interest in what gets their clothes clean.

Parents were amazed when their ten-year-olds started asking searching questions about washing powder brands.

But all was revealed when they discovered the children were taking part in an educational science project that helps youngsters understand how science affects everyday life, through something as simple as doing the washing.

And now the class of pupils at Waunfawr Primary, Cross Keys, are overjoyed to have won the Ariel Science of Cleaning competition, with a prize of £250 for educational software for the school.

Teacher Dawn Cluer entered her year four and five pupils for the competition and they had to carry out practical experiments, classroom activities and homework assignments with their family.

They were even asked to design a perfect washing tablet, to remove tough stains, and conduct surveys to find the most popular washing powder.

The children said their parents were surprised, but pleased, when they developed the sudden desire to help with the washing.

Mrs Cluer said: "The children had a wonderful time doing the experiments and even enjoyed the homework!

"When you engage children in something that's enjoyable as well as educational, they are motivated to learn."

Head teacher Paul Fowler said: "The programme is a valuable teaching resource. It gets an important science message across and involves pupils and parents at home, which we like to encourage."

Dr John Bailey, technical external relations manager of Procter and Gamble which manufactures Ariel, said the programme is now taught in thousands of schools across the UK.

He said: "You could say we are helping to develop the scientists of the future!"