Robot that strong-arms MPs

A robotic arm that writes notes to MPs has been installed in Parliament.

The project allows children to send messages to MPs to increase their interest in politics.

Children and members of the public submit their messages via a website vinspired.com/voicebox. The robot then writes each message on to cards, which are placed on the wall for MPs to read.

Dubbed Voicebot, the 50kg arm is usually used to build cars. "It's been fascinating to see MPs' reactions - it certainly seems to stop them in their tracks," said Adil Abrar of Sidekick Studios, the firm behind the project.

The robot is in the upper waiting gallery of the Commons. Some 15,000 messages have already been submitted which are also put on Twitter and a photo of each one is uploaded to photo sharing site Flickr and sent to its author. The robot, which has a swear filter, is in the Commons until tomorrow.