Budding engineers are entering into the age of technology at Eastburn Junior and Infant School.

The group of year six pupils belong to a new young engineers club at the school and are currently working on "electronic buggies", which will be able to ride around unaided by human beings.

Ten and 11-year-old pupils meet after school on a Monday to work on the mini vehicles and hope to have them completed by the end of the school year.

The buggies operate through a microchip, which is programmed through a computer.

IT curriculum development officer Karen Pickard, who helped to set up the club, said the group was working under the banner of "Young Engineers", which is a nationally recognised club for those interested in engineering.

She said: "Working on the buggies has been a really good project. If the club is a success this year we will run it again next year.

"I have been absolutely astounded by some of the things they have been able to do. At 10 and 11 years old you think they shouldn't be able to do that stuff', but they can."

The club is hoping to secure £500 from Shape The Future, a campaign run by the Royal Academy of Engineering to encourage young people to become interested in the industry.

Ms Pickard said: "We will use the money to buy equipment like saws and things. It is surprising how few children have ever used a saw before, or soldered.

"We have had to buy some of the equipment ourselves this time round so the money would come in handy.

"By the time these buggies are completed, they will have cost around £15-£20 a piece and the children are making one each."

The young engineers club has also had a trip to Cinetic Landis Grinding Ltd, which supplies grinding machines, to see what working in an authentic manufacturing environment is like.

Ms Pickard said: "Some of the children were saying I want to be an engineer when I grow up now' so they are definitely getting a lot out of the club."