Sixth-form science students from Havering donned white coats and looked at samples of brain and lungs to mark National Pathology Year.

A group of 38 from Frances Bardsley School, St Edward’s School and Redbridge College visited the laboratories at Queen’s Hospital, Romford, to get some hands-on experience.

They attended workshops on blood sampling and biopsies, and toured the labs to see what healthcare scientists get up to on a daily basis.

Funmi Akinlade, principal clinical scientist for Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, organised the event for the group.

“National Pathology Year gives us a great opportunity to highlight the many career options available,” she said. “We showed the students a number of different roles in our labs, ranging from those that are ideal for those without a university level of education to others needing a science or medical degree.”