Ambitious Largs Academy pupils have secured significant investment after impressing business mogul Sir Tom Hunter.

The young entrepreneurs pitched their idea of the Largs Picture House to Sir Tom and a panel of local business leaders in a bid to win funding for their project.

Impressing the Ayrshire born businessman with their own business acumen, the team took the top spot alongside Doon Academy, securing a £4000 investment each.

Having already successfully run the cinema in the school campus since March, they have screened films every second Friday, complete with ushers and a popcorn machine.

Sir Tom said: "The Largs team were outstanding with a business model that could truly scale across Scotland and beyond, it was fantastic.

"All the schools that participated in the competition were outstanding, everyone a winner in their own way.

"The talent, innovation and teamwork on display from all the schools gives you huge hope for the entrepreneurial future of Ayrshire and way beyond.

"Our young people are our future, the more we invest in them the better the future for Scotland."

The ambitious project is the brainchild of a talented group of third year pupils, who first presented their idea for 'Largs Picture House' as part of a school project.

Funding will be used for license fees for films, popcorn and hire of the projection equipment.

The original team is made up of S3 pupils, Eilidh Robinson, Callum Robinson, Louise Russel, Joseph McIntosh, Connor Muirhead and Fionn Gallagher.

Louise said: "We came up with the idea as part of a school project because we recognised that there was a gap in the market.

"We all love films and going with friends but we have to travel outwith the town to get the cinema experience.

"The idea is that it is a retro experience with the popcorn and ushers, all like an old school cinema.

"We hope it will be something the whole community can enjoy."

The Tom Hunter challenge, which has been running since 2012, is open to all pupils in Ayrshire secondary schools from S1 to S6.

The challenge was to come up with the best original idea for a product, innovation or business.

The council academies decide independently on the method of team selection and who will go forward to present their ideas in the final.

All finalists had to complete a business plan which was distributed to Sir Tom and the Business Panel.

The teams were then given five minutes to wow the judges, with Largs Academy putting together a confident and unique pitch to win them over.