FORMER British women's rally champion and TV presenter Penny Mallory has been singing the praises of a Black Country project run by Barnardo's following a visit to the charity's Stourbridge base.

Penny dropped into The Black Country Wheels project and met young people who have been learning practical mechanics skills and receiving support to improve their reading, writing, social and life skills to help boost their employment and education chances.

After seeing for herself the latest car projects underway, Penny said: "The project is incredible - already 5,500 young people have benefitted from the help, support, encouragement, advice and training they so desperately lacked in their lives. It is an extraordinary project and I am thrilled to have met the team running the operation.

"I was blown away by the boys I spoke to - they are the living evidence of the success of Wheels."

Black Country Wheels based on the Gainsborough Trading Estate, Rufford Road, caters for youngsters aged 14 to 16. It was set up ten years ago by Barnardo's children's charity worker Jan Lear with support from a variety of agencies including Connexions, Black Country colleges and the police.

Many of the young people who have attended the project over the years have been at risk of being excluded from mainstream schooling or have had difficulties with the academic route.

But the majority of the 5,500 who have been through the Black Country Wheels Project have gone on to find employment, further education or apprenticeships.

Some young people have even stayed on into their early 20s to take up mentoring roles, helping younger people to transform their lives.