CONTESTANTS of a new TV programme called Scrappy Races - an offshoot of the popular series ScrapHeap Challenge - paid a flying visit to Pembrokeshire last week.

And they used Halfway Motor Spares in Johnston as a base to prepare their weird and wonderful vehicles for a race on Pendine Sands.

Five teams - Chaos Crew, Barley Pickers, Green Goddesses, Boat Buoys and Megalomaniacs - are travelling the UK to compete on different types of terrain. Before each race the teams have to modify their vehicles, which range from a Volkswagen Beetle to a six-ton truck, to cope with the demands of different courses.

"It's a new series made by RDF Media Productions for Channel 4," said assistant producer Richard Higson. "The contestants had to create vehicles that reflected the spirit of their team and then complete a road test, an off-road test and an aquatic test. We came to the area to test the vehicles on sand."

The race at Pendine beach has been captured on film, but Richard would not reveal which team snatched victory.

"I can't tell you," he told the Western Telegraph. "You'll just have to watch the programme!"

Martin Lewis, of Halfway Motor Spares, said he enjoyed having the teams at the yard. "It was certainly an experience," he said. "I didn't realise how much went into things like this. There were 50 or 60 people here at one point!"

Scrappy Races is due to be screened this Christmas, so keep an eye out for footage of Johnston and Pendine.