A COMPUTER car designed by young entrepreneurs at Ribblesdale Technology College in Clitheroe has won the Ribble Valley and Hyndburn heat of this year's Young Enterprise competition.

The youngsters were encouraged to form a mini-firm, with "mentoring" from local business leaders. They also came third in a trade fair competition in Brussels. The enterprising youngsters have designed a "pic" car, or programmable integrated circuit, that is run by personal computer and can perform a wide range of tasks.

The super-buggy can draw shapes and angles, for use in mathematics, and motor around a classroom, negotiating corners and obstacles.

The youngsters have established a mini-firm called Odyssey to produce and market the car, written and published a user guide to accompany it, and designed their own website.

Odyssey now goes forward to a district final of Young Enterprise to be held at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, in May.