A MECHANICAL toy has been created by a technician from a Worcester school to help pupils learn about design and engineering.

Richard Boldry, Creative Arts technician, made Gerald and Hector, a one-man band player and his dog after students were taught how to design and make a mechanical toy as part of their Creative Arts curriculum.

Year 9 students from Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College learnt about different mechanisms such as cams, cranks and levers, using these to transform the rotation of a crank handle input giving a variety of output movements.

They used their research and imagination to create amusing automatons, learning how to use traditional hand and machine tools and an up to the minute computer controlled laser cutter to help them fulfil their designs.

Mr Boldry decided to create Gerald as a resource to illustrate some of the mechanisms being taught.

Winding the handle causes Gerald to play the bass drum while beating time with one leg, whilst the other knee plays intermittent cymbal beats.

His head nods and moves from side to side as if playing the harmonica and trumpet.

He also plays the guitar as Hector moves his paw up and down above his bowl.