A LANCASTER schoolboy who won the title Young Engineer of Britain 2003 with his 'flood plug' is now com-peting against some of the world's smartest minds.

Champion inventor Jack Tovey has jetted off to America to represent his country in the 2004 Intel International Scie-nce and Engineering Fair.

At 16, Jack (pictured) invented an automated flood-prevention device for house ventilation systems - otherwise known as 'the flood plug'.

He is now among 1,200 young dele-gates from 44 countries vying for prizes and bursaries worth more than $3 million as they exhibit their innovative projects and inventions in Portland, Oregon.

The Lancaster Royal Grammar School student, now 17 and intent on a career in engineering, is joined by LRGS teacher Craig Reid.

They are with young engineer Philip Cowan, from Cleveland, who has designed a trailer with a hydraulically-operated drop hammer that allows one person to fence off a field.

Jack and Philip are part of the Royal Academy of Engineering's 'Best' programme - a network of more than 1,600 science, engineering, electronics and technology clubs in schools and colleges across the UK.