Ian Watts has won more medals than the combined Olympic hauls of Carl Lewis, Linford Christie and Sir Steven Redgrave - and he did it all with robots.

Mr Watts, 43, and his children Joe, ten and Ellie, seven, masterminded a series of wins in the BBC's Techno Games tournament.

The annual ten-day event challenges home-made robots in 23 events such as shotput, swimming, high jump, sumo-wrestling and football.

Since the first Techno Games three years ago, Mr Watts and his children have won 18 medals.

Mr Watts, of Madehurst Close, Brighton, let his foot do the talking to break the robot record for kicking a rugby ball the longest distance.

He measured his own right leg and used it as a model for the artificial limb, which kicked the ball a record 35m at Prontypridd rugby ground.

The feat impressed onlookers, including Welsh rugby star Neil Jenkins.

But not everyone was taken with Mr Watts's over-enthusiastic approach to robot football.

His robot Bigger Brother teamed up with a fellow competitor's machine to take on another pair, who were soon crying foul over some tough tackling.

Mr Watts admitted: "There was a lot of fouling going on. It was certainly dirtier than real football.

"The technical director took me aside and asked me to take it easy. I tried to play more gently but thought: 'No, I want to win this.'

"I went in harder and eventually the other team's robots fell to pieces. They knew they weren't going to win anyway but they didn't talk to me for a while."

The approach paid off, though, as Mr Watts took gold in the football and bronze in a race over an assault course.

Bigger Brother failed to win a medal in the sumo, despite having won the event last year.

Next month, the trio will be travelling to Holland to defend the international title they won there last year.

In May, they will be taking part in Battle Bots in the United States.

The family passion for robot-making began when Joe watched BBC2's Robot Wars and begged his father to make him a replica.

Mr Watts's creations went on to dominate Robot Wars in future series and he was taken on by the BBC as resident mechanical expert.

He was a broadcast engineer but gave it up to make robots and advise others.

Also taking part in Techno Games were Hove couple Chris and Carol Bean, whose robot Phoebius was in the Solar Challenge semi-final.

Techno Games is broadcast on BBC2 each weekday night at 6.45pm until Friday.