Swindon's County Ground Athletics Stadium was turned into a racetrack with a difference.

Around 130 schoolchildren from across the region turned up with electric cars designed and built by their schools.

Swindon hosted the seventh leg of the 2002 Ford Greenpower electric car marathon challenge the final will be held at the famous Goodwood race circuit on October 13.

The nationwide competition for pupils aged 12 to 16 is designed to encourage young people to take up engineering.

The founder of Greenpower, Barry Shears, said: "We really want to get kids interested in the subject before they choose their GCSEs and hopefully they will take up technology at college."

Each team is made up of six drivers. The team must drive continuously around the circuit for six hours with each member driving for at least 20 minutes.

After the given time the total laps are totted up and the three best performers go through to the final. Last year's winning team from West Sussex completed 164 miles at an average of 26mph from a 240-watt electric motor.