TWENTY-FIRST century technology is helping to keep Basingstoke's multi-million-pound award-winning shopping centre spick and span.

Two robots roam the gleaming floors of the £300million Festival Place complex, cleaning the equivalent of a thousand living rooms an hour.

They work so fast that they can clean the entire public access area of the 1,000,000 square foot centre in five hours.

However, if you haven't seen them at work, that's not a surprise, because all this activity takes place while shoppers are tucked up in their beds.

Festival Place centre director Bernard Ferris said: "The robots are equipped with laser scanners which they use to build up a 'map' of the journey around the shopping centre. This enables them to position their way around while scrubbing and drying hard floor areas of Festival Place.

"They also have an impressive 52 sonar sensors to ensure they avoid obstructions and, of course, people while they travel round. They can even talk using an onboard messaging system so they can warn and inform people in their path.

"The robots are manufactured in Bavaria and were first introduced in Holland in 1996. We're sure they'll have a long and happy life here in Basingstoke."

For all their hard work, these super scrubbing hi-tech remote robots don't currently have a name - but that's where Gazette readers can help.

Festival Place bosses are giving away a £50 prize to each of the two Gazette readers who provide the best name for the two new computer cleaning champions.

All you need to do is send your suggested name to Remote Robot Name Competition, Festival Place, Paddington House, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 7LJ, or hand in your suggestions in person to the information desk in Festival Place, by October 10, 2003.

Only one entry is allowed per household and no cash alternative is available.

Employees of Festival Place and Gazette Newspapers are ineligible to enter.