ROBOTS designed and built by pupils at Yarm school took part in a television contest this week.

The three machines were built by Philip Newbould, Gareth Thomas, Jack Steadman, Ben McGriskin, and Alexander Edwards, with the help of Mr David Dunn, the head of design and technology at the school.

They have been building the robots in school and on Saturdays since the Spring, with some additional help from parents.

Yesterday the youngsters travelled to the Shepperton television studios in London, where the Techno Games programme is recorded. The robots will appear in an edition to be broadcast on BBC2 in the new year.

"The contest is based on the Olympics, so the robots compete with each other rather than attack each other. We have a walking robot, a swimmer and a solar-powered robot. Some elements of the designs are based on dinosaurs." said Mr Dunn.

"These are quite sophisticated machines. The frames are steel or aluminium and the shells are PVC. The boys salvaged bits and pieces from old grass strimmers and hedge trimmers, but built their own gear boxes. The took cogs from other machines and re-used them. It has been fun but it teaches the principles of robotics. Two are battery-powered and the other has solar panels.

"The robots were up on stage at the school assembly. Everyone was interested to see them - and quietly impressed. This is the first time we have built robots so these boys are technological pioneers. I just hope the robots keep running OK or there will be some fun poked at us!"