TWO ROBOT enthusiasts may have lost the battle but they do not intend to lose the war.

Tonight the BBC 2 programme Robot Wars will feature Hurworth teenagers Richard Neely and Phill Sievers, along with Richard's dad Phil.

Their heavyweight monster, Mazakari, with rotating cutting blade, was created by 16-year-old Phill in his garage at home.

It is made from steel on a steel chassis and the team had high hopes for the 79.9kg machine powered by two wheelchair scooter motors.

But as with all remote control carnage, they were in for a big shock as Mortice, a £40,000 robot built by a group of Cambridge University students, tore them apart.

Richard and Phill, both A-level students at Queen Elizabeth sixth form college, Darlington, have vowed to enter again next year and are looking for sponsorship to help put the North East on the Robot Wars map.

Richard told the D&S Times: "Mazakari cost about £500 to build and was Phill's second design attempt.

"It went really well in the auditions and we totally destroyed another robot that had cost about £1,000.

"But we changed the battery for the proper show and it did not work as well. The disc blade went really slowly and we got pulverised.

"Next time we won't make the same mistake."

More than 1,000 hopefuls applied for a place on Series 4, but only 320 made it through to the first qualifying round.

Mazakari was one of only 64 robots new to Robot Wars placed against 32 seeded competitors from previous wars.

Richard believes that winning is all down to the type of equipment you can afford.

"Top quality motors cost a lot more because they are a lot lighter and that means you can fit on more weaponry. The next one will be much better as long as we can get some sponsorship to help us build it."

The maximum weight for competing robots is 80kg although there is no limit on how much can be spent.

Robot Wars attracts an average of 6.5m viewers and is screened three times in one week.

Series three alone regularly topped combined ratings for BBC 2, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Richard and Phill's next attempt should contact Richard on 01325 721302