SCHOOLKIDS can learn how to get their motor running in an eco-friendly way thanks to a new project.

The newly-launched Basildon Young Engineers Club is giving twelve youngsters the chance to learn how to build an environmentally friendly electric car.

Taking place over eight Saturday mornings the project will see the year 11 students building the E2V eco car at Prospects College in Crompton Close, Basildon.

Once the car is built six of the children will then be picked to test its pedal power acting as drivers, mechanics and pit crew when they race it at the Ford Dunton race track.

They will go up against teams from around the country in race, being billed as "Formula 24".

The races form part of a series of competitions being run nationally by Green Power, a firm promoting careers in engineering and technology to schoolkids.