THEY usually struggle to reach 60 miles per hour, but one Mottram firm helped ensure that a Robin Reliant could fly.

When programme makers from Top Gear wanted to attach a Reliant to a rocket, they turned to Stalybridge man Colin Rowe.

Colin works for Stockport firm, The Rocket Men, whose engineering skills proved crucial to the project.

The rocket had to be designed, materials sourced, parts lasered, space frame welded, tested, car stripped out, adapted and then flown in just four months.

With such a tight schedule The Rocket Men turned to a Hattersley firm to help out - Mottram Engineering on Hattersley industrial estate.

Peter Bryan and his team helped source many of the materials and offered space in their factory premises so the rocket could be built on site.

The 27m³ rocket was the largest flown from the UK. Every internal element possible was stripped out of the Reliant Robin to reduce its weight. Lighter wheels were added, as were wings, rocket motors and flight systems to enable the car to be flown remotely once it separated from the rocket.

Its final flying weight was reduced to 250kg - just over a third of its usual road weight.

The programme was aired on Sunday. The car was succesfully lifted into the air, but failed to separate from the rocket. Despite this, Peter and his team enjoyed the experience and relished spending the day with presenters, Richard Hammond and James May.

"I've always watched Top Gear for as long as I can remember. I did think it was a bit of a wind-up when I got the call!" said Peter.

"Never in Del-boy Trotter's wildest dreams would he have imagined his beloved Reliant Robin soaring into space."