PROSPECTIVE students at Bolton University were given a taste of the future when two talking robots visited the campus.

The Nao robots, which are 58cm tall and can be programmed to walk, dance and answer questions, were the star attraction at the University Technical College (UTC) open day on Saturday.

Dr Zubair Hanslot, provost of the university, helped visitors to interact with the futuristic robots, which will be used as a learning tool for pupils on their GCSE and A level computer science studies.

Through their lessons, the students will gain the required knowledge to be able to programme the robot to act in certain ways.

Dr Hanslot said the robots were a great tool in helping young people to know more about programming and computers.

He said : "These robots are a great opportunity for people to learn serious computer programming.

"Compute programming is pervasive and is omnipresent, and through the robots will enable students to learn about it in a constructive and exciting way.

"It will help them with problem solving skills, and having the robots means it will no longer be a dry, boring piece of code to develop while learning about computer programming."

In addition, the robots will be available to primary schools to encourage a interest in science from a young age.

The UTC is also developing links with the Lancaster University, which will allow students to progress onto related degrees in engineering, medicine and computer sciences.

The UTC, which will open in September, will specialise in health sciences and engineering technologies. Both of these industries face a serious skill shortage locally and nationally.

Find out more on the new school, which will have around 600 students by 2017, by visiting utcbolton.org.