A BUSINESSMAN whose firm helped Britain smash the world land speed record is helping to head up a new bid - and this time his daughter is getting in on the act.

John Getty, chairman of Nelson-based PDS Engineering, is one of the key partners in the British Steam Car Challenge, which aims to break the record for a steam-powered vehicle.

And John's daughter, Annette, will be behind the wheel of the car PDS is helping design and build.

Organisers hope two runs will reach 200mph for a male-driven car and 150mph for Annette.

The challenge was conceived in 1999 with the twofold aim of breaking the land speed record and creating excitement in the arena of alternative fuels.

Organisers hope the project will create interest among the next generation of engineers to work toward cleaner and safer forms of transport.

Patron of the scheme is car enthusiast Lord Montague of Beaulieu whose museum in Hampshire will house the car, named Inspiration, when the project has ended.

Mr Getty said: "It is a very exciting project and we are delighted to be involved. PDS were approached because of our expertise and experience and everyone is really looking forward to the test runs next year.

"Annette has been working on various projects for a while now and I think she fancied the chance of getting behind the wheel for a change."

Steam cars were popular in the early 1900s until they were surpassed by the gasoline-powered internal combustion cars.

Engineers at PDS, which specialises in precision engineering contracts for companies such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, GE and Westland Helicopters, has also earned a reputation for prototype engineering and will build the car's chassis, turbine and valves.

The Steam Car Challenge will be the latest in a proud line of record attempts for PDS. A team from the company were involved in the Thrust SSC project which broke the sound barrier with a speed of 763mph in the Nevada desert in 1997. John's firm supplied several components for the jet-powered car.

Annette, 25, attended Habergham High School, Burnley, before getting a Business degree in Hull. She spent part of the placement year within NASA's Johnson Space Centre, Houston, as a monitor for the prestigious International Space School.