MECHANICALLY-minded youngsters from a Worcester school motored their way into the regional finals of a national competition.

Four students from Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College in Timberdine Avenue competed against more than 90 Midlands groups in the Toyota Challenge, which required teams to design and build a battery-powered vehicle able to navigate an obstacle course.

Russell Smith, Luke Crocker and Josh Dunker, all aged 14, and Matthew Girling, 13, submitted their designs in February and were invited to compete against six other teams at last week's Midlands finals at Toyota's headquarters in Burnaston, Derbyshire.

They had to give an oral presentation to judges and race their vehicle.

Keith Hewitt, the school's area leader for creative arts, said: "The presentation proved very impressive, with the four boys demonstrating their skill and enthusiasm for the challenge, while articulately describing their innovative approach to the electronics that controlled the vehicle.

"However, during the final race, our team's vehicle got trapped in between one of the obstacles during which damage occurred to one of the motor gearboxes that made the vehicle unusable."

Despite the setback, the team came fourth and are determined to enter the competition again next year.