TWO teenage inventors are hoping to walk away with top design awards today.

Schoolgirls Lisa Richardson and Rebecca Hurst, both 12, have already been crowned winners with their innovative designs of a glove torch and an automatic plant watering system.

This afternoon, the youngsters will be bidding for national status at the Audi Innovation Design Awards.

The pupils of Bydales Secondary School, in Redcar, will join 22 other finalists and their designs at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium for the grand final.

Students aged 11 to 14, from across the UK, entered the competition, with short-listed schools invited to attend one of 23 regional semi-finals.

Malcolm Hebden, head of design and technology at Bydales, said he was proud of the student's talent.

"The ideas from all of the students were excellent. In the regional finals, there were 21 Bydales pupils out of a possible 51 entrants, that shows the talent we have here."

Lisa designed a glove torch that responds to hand movements and Rebecca came up with an automatic plant watering device.

Rebecca was inspired by her grandmother, who was going on holiday and needed someone to water her garden.

Mr Hebden said: "The designs of both girls were original and practical and would be useful in everyday life. We have every hope for them in the finals."

The Audi Design Foundation awards grants to young designers to help develop their ideas. There is a £2,000 national prize up for grabs for the winner.