IN 2014 they hit headlines for creating a life-size Little Tikes car: now a workshop near Bicester is set to hit TV screens with a flame-throwing Hello Kitty-themed battle bot.

The team at Attitude Autos have taken their quirky creations to new heights to transform a Ford Focus into the life-size battle-ready machine.

This Sunday the beastly build will perform in front of the nation on new Sky One TV show Carnage, hosted by former cricketer Freddie Flintoff.

Billed as 'Mad Max meets Robot Wars', the show sees teams of mechanics pitted against each other with their crazy creations.

John Bitmead, who owns the garage in Ambrosden with his brother Geof, said the show's creators Primal Media had seen a hot-pink Hello Kitty car 'Kittypocalypse' – which he created for a friend – at a show and approached him to apply for the six-part series.

Taking up the challenge, the mad mechanic took his creation a step further to build a more intimidating and post-apocalypse themed 'Hell Kitty' car.

He said: "We went for the Ford Focus as we wanted to get the most common car possible and use that as if it was there was an apocalypse in the UK.

"These ideas just fall out of my head to be honest, my mind never shuts down.

"Once I start making stuff like this I can't stop."

The team at Attitude Autos transformed the Ford into a formidable 4x4 by strapping on monster tyres and a host of weaponry which, as a show rule, had to be fully-functioning.

The car now boasts a 30-tonne hydraulic ram on the front, two hydraulic arms complete with disc cutters on the side and a water cannon on top.

Mr Bitmead also fitted a 'monster flame thrower' to the back of the car to add to its Robot Wars-style battle approach.

The 52-year-old garage co-owner added: "I had about six weeks to build this one, I normally have about six months.

"It was intense and took about 10 to 12 hours a day for those two months."

The car was shipped out to South Africa in February and soon joined by Mr Bitmead, his brother Geof and driver Constance Bannock.

The team were flown to Cape Town alongside almost 50 other competitors and, after delays due to two serious sand storms, were taxied out to the desert where the show was filmed.

Mr Bitmead said: "It was in the middle of nowhere.

"The first time we all saw each others cars parked up was amazing and Hell Kitty was the first in view so I heard comments about others teams didn't think they had done enough in comparison, so that was nice.

"I was very nervous because the other cars were incredible and built by many people who build cars for racing, whereas I am more about the aesthetics."

Mr Bitmead said the first photo shoot with Hell Kitty against the desert backdrop was an 'amazing thrill'.

The team will also be showing off their creations at a festival in North Oxfordshire this September – Apocalypticus – Road to Ruin.

Carnage will start on Sky One this Sunday night at 8pm.