Ship builders turn to pedal power

Appledore Shipyard in North Devon is helping to build the biggest aircraft carriers the UK has ever produced, but apprentices at the company Babcock are this week turning their minds to other matters.

The trainees are using their newly honed skills to make pedal cars for a grand prix race in Barnstaple, organised by Petroc College.

The apprentices at Babcock Appledore have built the pedal cars in their own time but it's proved a good experience to help them in their studies.

Just two months ago the National Council for Industry and Higher Education warned that Britain needs to do more to boost its supply of engineers with almost a hundred thousand recruits needed in the next four years just to replace those people retiring. Setting a fun challenge like this is the key according to bosses at Babcock.

The race track is on the Strand in Barnstaple where in four months time the world's best cyclists will start the penultimate leg of the Tour of Britain. The event on Sunday won't be as gruelling, but it'll certainly be as competitive with teams signed up from across Britain to take part.

Watch the full report by Seth Conway: