YOUNG inventors have won a place in the national finals of a competition after they created a device that automatically walks and feeds a dog. Made out of empty crisp packets, cling foil and bottle tops, the Dog It All was designed by Year 5 pupils at Bra

YOUNG inventors have won a place in the national finals of a competition after they created a device that automatically walks and feeds a dog.

Made out of empty crisp packets, cling foil and bottle tops, the Dog It All was designed by Year 5 pupils at Brampton Primary School.

The model is aimed at taking the fuss out of walking and feeding a dog.

Taking inspiration from an ordinary running machine, the Dog It All has a bar at the end with a bone to encourage the dog to keep running.

Two large tanks dispense food and water when the dog stops for a rest.

Other innovations put forward by other schools included a flying motorbike, a ladder for spiders to climb out of a bath, and a pat-on-the-back device.

Teacher, Natalie Parr, who worked with pupils on the project said: "It took about four weeks to come up with the idea, design it and then make it.

"We spent time discussing inventions and looking at different types and pupils came up with a few of their own. Students then voted for their favourite, which was the Dog It All."

The competition was run by the website www.crackingideas.com which asked pupils to come up with a design for the invention of the future using only everyday objects

Designed by nine and 10-year-olds, The Dog It All, has been chosen as the Midlands and East winner of the 2007 Cracking Ideas Project, which is backed by the government and Aardman Animations, the creators of Wallace and Gromit.

For their award-winning efforts Brampton Primary School was given a lap-top computer.

The school will now go on to battle it out against five other schools from around the country in a bid to be crowned the national champions.

Jacqui Watkins, headteacher, said: "We are really pleased to have won the regional competition and hope we can come up the cracking idea to win the national title."

The Cracking Ideas Project was developed by the UK Intellectual Property Office to encourage innovation.

INFORMATION: To find out more or to entry next year's Cracking Ideas competition visit www.crackingideas.com