´óÏó´«Ã½

An entire Wallace and Gromit World of Invention has opened up online. Budding inventors can play in Wallace's workshop; master Wallace's very own Hands On Inventors Kits; take part in our inventing competition; or find out more about the Wallace and Gromit regional roadshows.

Competition

Wensleydale-loving inventor Wallace knows just how powerful a great idea combined with only a little bit of engineering know-how can be. So, inspired by his favourite contraption, LAD, Wallace is asking the British public to unleash their inner inventor and create their own device. He's asking budding inventors (complete novices included) to design and build their most inventive contraption, made entirely from bits and pieces around the home.

It could be something that wakes up Wallace, helps Gromit complete his household chores or moves one (or both of them!) from A to B – anything goes, as long as it meets the judges' criteria. For full terms and conditions, visit bbc.co.uk/wallaceandgromit.

Anyone can enter – individuals, teams of friends or even entire school classes. Entrants need to record a short video (maximum three minutes) of their creation, and upload it onto the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s .

The entrants will be shortlisted by a ´óÏó´«Ã½ panel and a list of 100 finalists sent to Aardman Animations. A first and second prize winner will be chosen by Nick Park and his team. The winner (group or individual) will get the chance to have themselves or their contraption featured in an Aardman Animations production before 2012.

Wallace's Workshop

In a free online game, Heath Robinson wannabees can test their inventing skills in Wallace's Workshop, by building contraptions to move Wallace from A to B. Here, visitors can play with mechanical challenges, all the time expanding their understanding of science, physics and inventing.

Over 31 progressive levels, inventors must use a collection of spare parts from Wallace's garage to build a contraption that can transport Wallace across the screen, building more convoluted contraptions as the levels progress.

There are tutorial levels to learn the building fundamentals, challenge levels to get people thinking, and further show-related levels that unlock each week as Wallace And Gromit's World of Invention airs on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One.

Hands On Inventors Kits

For those who want to get their inventing juices flowing at home, Wallace has put together 10 Inventors Kits, explaining how to build everything from an ejector seat car to a balloon powered hovercraft. Six inventors kits are available online now, with another set of kits to be released after the first four episodes air on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One.

The kits include a downloadable pdf with step-by-step instructions, and a short film showing how the invention works.

The Great Egg Race

In the spirit of ingenious engineering, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Archive is releasing a small selection of programmes from the 1979-1986 ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two science-based series The Great Egg Race. The programmes showcase the variety of challenges that teams of inventors turned their hands to, from creating a rubber-band powered device to transport a single egg the furthest possible distance, to an ingenious tea-making device made from humble household materials.

The collection will be available from 14 October. Watch eccentric scientist Professor Heinz Wolff putting the contestants through their paces and get tips to help you with your own engineering endeavours, at bbc.co.uk/archive/great_egg_race.