YOUNGSTERS from six primary schools across Winchester were delighted with the sunny weather this week, as the Hampshire Solar Car Challenge got underway.

The pupils designed solar-powered miniature vehicles as part of a county-wide competition aimed at giving Britain's future, a taste of the future.

The vehicles are all powered by a solar panel of the same size with the schools competing to see who could get the most from the tiny engines.

The winners from each of the eight districts across Hampshire will be entered into a grand final to be held at the Thruxton Carting Circuit on July 3.

The Winchester final took place on the tennis courts at the River Park Leisure Centre and featured racers from Itchen Abbas Primary School, John Keble School in Hursley, St Bede's Church of England School in Winchester, St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School in Oliver's Battery, Western Primary School in Winchester and Wickham Primary School.

The fastest car on the day was produced by Western Primary School whose car, 'Glamdring' completed the 20m course in just 44 seconds, closely followed by runners-up The John Keble Primary School.

There was also a best-design competition that was won by St Bede's Primary School with their design 'Jimmy Jag'.

A spokesman for the organisers, said: "The effect that our lifestyles have on the environment is becoming clearer all the time, for example it is now pretty certain that our use of fossil fuels to produce energy is contributing to climate change.

"But there are things we can do about this, by using energy more wisely and by generating it from cleaner sources such as solar power."