ENGINEERS are introducing eager young pupils to the 21st Century jitters.

The boffins from the Science and Technology Research Organisation at Salford are touring Leigh Education Action Zone schools encouraging junior pupils to design and manufacture colourful buggy racers and workshops at Westleigh St Paul's and Newton Westpark went down a treat.

Lynda Hodgkiss, Year 5 teacher at Newton Westpark, said her class was "totally engrossed" in the project. She said: "The finished products were really exciting, and making them stretched my class and made them think about design and technology and science."

Leigh EAZ project director Alan Dutton said: "This programme is all about fun ways to raise attainment."

Next month St Gabriel's, St Peter's Infants and St Joseph's RC will get the bug.