Young engineers hoping to represent Britain in a robot building competition in South Africa are looking for funding.

A team of ten students from Ewell’s Glyn School have built and programmed Lego robots which pick up and move objects.

The pupils were invited to compete in an international championship after coming fourth in a national competition called the First Lego League.

But only four pupils will be able to fly out to South Africa for the competition in May unless the team manage to get more backing.

Jane Harding, the school’s computer club organiser, said: "To have done so well and got this far is amazing.

"We need significantly more financial help to take that next, huge step.

"As things stand, we can only take less than half the team who have worked so hard to reach this stage, which is absolutely agonising."

Costs come to about £1,000 per student. The pupils have raised £5,000 so far thanks to donors like engineering firm Atkins.

Ms Harding added: "If there are any local technology businesses out there or well-wishers who can help in any way to give these incredibly hard working and talented students such a unique opportunity, we’d love to hear from you.

"They’re not just representing Glyn School - they’re representing the whole country - so any help you can give them is an investment in the future of British engineering."

Email HARDINGJ@glynschool.org or call 020 8716 4949.