BOB the Builder can hang up his hard hat. Roary the Racing Car is ready to zoom onto television screens.

Basildon man Keith Chapman, 47, who created Bob the Builder, can't wait for kids to see his latest show.

Roary the Racing Car will be screened for the first time at 7.15am on Monday on Channel Five, then every Monday morning for the next 13 weeks.

Mr Chapman said: "Roary is going to be as big as Bob.

"It's a story about a young boy who makes mistakes as he rushes through life, but Roary happens to be a racing car living with his racing car friends."

Other characters include chief mechanic Big Chris, whose voice is provided by funny man Peter Kay, chief marshall of the race track Marsha, an Italian prima donna Formula One car called Maxi, an American Indianapolis saloon car called Tin Top and an easy-going 4X4 called Plugger.

The series is narrated by driving legend Sir Stirling Moss.

Mr Chapman said: "This is the most advanced animation we've ever used - a mixture of stop- frame photography and computer generated images, to give the racing scenes speed and drama. "We've already had letters from children, asking where they can buy Roary toys and books, which is pretty amazing considering it hasn't been on telly yet."

For a preview, log onto www.roarytheracingcar.com