LOWTON St Mary's Scouts are among the quickest in the north west but need your old BMX bikes to help them stay ahead.

For years they've been up front in the national scoutcar races and this month the speed demons took their Sparrow and Sparrow Hawk devices to top awards against the nation's best in the premier class at the Blackpool championships sponsored by Formula One manufacturers Jordon.

Over 50 Scout groups from around the country entered with self-built pedal cars and the Lowton racers received an armful of trophies all made from used Jordon racing car gear wheels.

In the sprint race championship finals Phil Griffiths won the Explorer Scout class, Chris Smith came runner-up in the Cub Scout class and Thomas Hayes took first in the Cub Scout's division one.

Scout Richard Handley raced to a second place but drama struck for Ben Eastham who was well ahead but overturned when he took the final bend too fast.

Using Sparrow in the relay Explorer Scouts Phil Griffiths, Graham Ince, John Hughes and Mark Molyneux came third and Scouts Richard Handley, Stuart Baguley, Alex Goodland and Alex Hayes came second.

Scouts Ben Eastham, Joseph Singleton, Sam Blower and Nat Morris were second in the division one relay and Cub Scouts Hannah Morris, Thomas Hayes, Peter Harrison and Callum Hanlon were fourth in Sparrow Hawk.

Cub Scouts Toby Hart, Matthed Quinn and Christopher Smith also raced and Cub leader Lesley Roberts won her leaders race.

But to keep in front the troop need children's size BMX bike wheels.

"The wheels on our cars are now obsolete and we gave difficulty obtaining tyres. The only wheels of the right size and strength are the ones on children's BMX cycles," said Alec Hughes who can be contacted 01942 741594.