TAKE two lawn mowers motors and two technologically minded teenagers and watch out - you've got Havoc!

John Robinson and Kevin Shirtcliffe, both 16 and from Simonstone, spent just £50 creating their robot Havoc and were delighted when it earned a place on the BBC2 TV show Robot Wars - the mechanical answer to Gladiators.

Many of the robots have had thousands of pounds lavished on them, but Havoc was more than a match.

In the last show the lads' metal monster, with a top speed of 7mph, smashed through to the final and just missed the top spot. Now the pals are planning a new robot, called Reaper.

Although the lads were seen on the show with John's dad Philip, the robot was all their own work with spare pieces of metal and help provided by neighbours and friends.

John, of Westminster Close, is completing his GCSEs at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School while Kevin, of Furness Avenue, is studying for his A-levels at Clitheroe Sixth Form College.

John said: "We were struggling to get some motors then a friend of my father's offered us a lawn mower motor for £10 and we picked up another for £20.

"We used the motors and the gear boxes and bits of metal shelving to make the robot and our weapons were a lifting tongue and spikes on the back and a mace on the front."

It took a month to find the motors and two months to build Havoc working evenings and weekends.

But finding motors for Reaper won't be a problem because the lads have secured sponsorship from lawn mower manufacturer Atco, who have agreed to provide two new motors.

Now they need speed controls that can cost hundreds of pounds.

Parts from Havoc may be reused in the new machine, but its shell will remain intact. The lads got show presenter and Red Dwarf star Craig Charles to autograph the bodywork.

And they are warning other roboteers: "We'll be back!"

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