Bradford lecturers have squared up for their own robot war over the future of the human race.

The University of Bradford's cybernetics department - which works to develop robotics and artificial intelligence - is one of only two such specialist centres in the country.

And now its staff have clashed with rivals at the University of Reading over their view that "machines will take over the world."

The good-natured battle comes to a head as Professor Kevin Warwick, head of the Reading unit, appears on television to make his case.

Prof Warwick was speaking at the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, which are being broadcast on Channel 4 from yesterday to December 30.

His Bradford counterpart Dr John Baruch, said: "Basically his argument is that robots will one day take over the world by enslaving humans.

"At Bradford, we disagree with this and say the challenge is to utilise our intelligence to make robots our slaves."

Dr Baruch said there had been a "long-running and fundamental" difference of opinion between the two centres over the man versus machine debate.

Dr Baruch said the Reading camp believe robots will become so advanced that they will be able to "think for themselves" and eventually dominate the humans who were once their masters.

But he said: "We take the view robots are very different to people. While they may be good at specific tasks they do not have the richness of the human experience and the all-round intelligence which comes from it."

Experiences such as playing sport, sexual relationships and enjoying music all helped to build the human character and intelligence which was underestimated by the Reading school of thought, said Dr Baruch.

He said that the Bradford department was working towards a robot which could find its way around the house, communicate and carry out manual housework tasks.

But he said: "I think we can all sleep safe in our beds. It is one thing doing the washing up or vacuuming... it is quite another to go out to the theatre or play a round of golf.''