It was like a scene from TV's Robot Wars. Weird, wonderful and the downright odd contraptions were on show everywhere.

But these inventions were for more than just fun and certainly not for fighting - they were the culmination of months of hard work for a group of Bradford students.

Robots weren't the only stars of the final year project show by students on cybernetics, internet and virtual systems courses at Bradford University.

Computer software to do everything from running a pizza takeaway to organising a huge computer gaming tournament was also on display.

The final projects were demonstrated to fellow students, staff and the public, as well as being assessed by external examiner Professor Kevin Warwick, of Reading University, famous for inserting a computer chip in his arm to switch on lights and open doors in buildings.

John Winchcombe was demonstrating his direction pointing automaton - or a mannequin that gives directions.

The robot is designed to stand in museums or reception areas and point visitors in the direction of facilities.

Currently it needs buttons to work, but could be developed to respond to speech.

"I planned to put speech in but time and money got in the way," the 23-year-old cybernetics and automotive electronics student said.

"But part of the project is to come up with further additions and one would be voice recognition so it would respond to speech."

Darting around on the floor was a prototype dance robot, created by 22-year-old Anuari Sulaiman.

The wireless robot dances around to music it creates and works via infrared.

Designed to teach youngsters in settings like Eureka children's museum in Halifax, the robot can be easily programmed on a computer screen to do different routines.

One of the biggest projects was a giant shark resembling Jaws.

Chris Peel, pictured, originally created the shark - which was designed to respond to people's movements to display the sharks swimming techniques - to go in a museum but has now decided it will go into an exhibition at the university.

And one 24-year-old student is looking into how to market his creation, a device which organises huge computer games tournaments, in which players can compete for vast sums of money.

George Knupffer is already a partner in a company, Boxrod, which organises demonstrations of gaming technology.

Professor Warwick said: "The variety is fantastic and for me it's important seeing them actually building things - it's not just theoretical."

He said the university's cybernetics department was excellent.

"It's a very exciting subject area and important for the future."

Dr John Baruch, head of the department, said: "It's a really exciting day. It reflects the things in the degree programmes that have really excited them and show where they want to go.

"It's really good for the staff to see such a wealth of talent and creativity."

Alan Kemp already knows where he wants to go - New York.

The 23-year-old cybernetics and virtual worlds student will move to the Big Apple after accepting a job offer as a games developer with company AI.