A FULL sized hot rod designed to be accessible for the disabled has been created by a group of Old Swinford Hospital School pupils.

Students Rogan McGilp, aged 16, Ethan Dunbar-Baker, aged 14, and Stuart Chau, aged 17, will now see their invention showcased in front of more than 7,500 people at a national engineering final.

They will demonstrate the contraption as part of the National Science and Engineering Competition at the Big Bang Fair, which is set for the NEC in Birmingham on March 16 and 17.

Rogan, from Herefordshire, is the driving force behind the project, with the creative inspiration for the build being his brother David, who has Down’s syndrome and is wheelchair bound.

He said: “By building a fully operational and accessible vehicle, I hope to change the perception of what a ‘disability’ car can be.

“The completed car will give David the freedom to get involved in the hot rod community.”

The car is currently 14ft long and 7ft wide, it has a 4.0 litre Lexus LS400 quad cam, fuel injected V8 engine and an automatic transmission, as well as a Jaguar limited slip rear axle and drag racing wheels to the rear.

Rogan has designed and built a unique and specialist set of electric gull wing doors so the disabled user has maximum access to the vehicle. It will also have custom hand controls so a person with limited or no use of their legs will be able to drive it.

The National Science and Engineering Competition is open to all 11 to 18-year-olds living in the UK and in full-time education, and aims to recognise and reward young people's achievements in all areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

But to fund the build, the team have managed to obtain sponsorship from a number of well-known national companies, but would welcome any additional support.

Follow the progress of the team on Twitter @stemprojectosh, or their build thread at www.rodsnsods.co.uk