FUTURE Jenson Buttons at a County Durham school have qualified for a national competition after designing, building and racing an electric car.

For more than a year, pupils at Teesdale Comprehensive School, Barnard Castle, have spent their lunchtimes making the electric car.

Last week, at Croft circuit, near Darlington, they qualified for the national finals of a competition to design and build an environmentally-friendly car using a motor and batteries provided by organisers Greenpower.

The team will now travel to the Greenpower Electric Car Marathon finals at Goodwood, on October 10.

The team was helped by Dick Francis, who runs the Carrosserie Company in Barnard Castle, which restores vintage cars.

Techology teacher Peter Thwaites said: "All the aluminium and plastic was donated by Smiths signmakers in town from off-cuts and scrap metal, so it really is a green car.

"We got the best lap time at Croft. It's got a top speed of 31mph, but we hope to improve on that before the finals.

"We're continually making adjustments. Before the race last week, one of the year 11 pupils, Jonathan Maude, was still welding at 10.30pm the night before."