Daihatsu and Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq will bring an added splash of colour to the 2002 British International Motor Show with something completely new, a special area called the 'Paintbox' where youngsters can paint on real cars.

On the show's official launch day (22 October) hundreds of West Midlands school children will also become VIP guests and join Konnie when she officially opens the Daihatsu 'Paintbox'.

Konnie will help more than 300 children create funky designs on actual cars. Furthermore, each VIP youngster will receive a free family ticket to return to the show, which opens to the public from 23 October to 3 November.

Marketing Director of West Bromwich-based Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited, Paul Tunnicliffe, explained: "We are delighted that Konnie will help us give the Paintbox a truly exciting start and we hope that throughout the show younger visitors will make the most of this unique opportunity."

He added: "Our ranges of passenger cars are among the 'greenest' drivers can buy and an environmental theme will be reflected in the designs children are encouraged to create on our Paintbox cars."

Children aged four to 12 will be able to paint on cars while youngsters under four can draw and paint at special child-sized Paintbox easels. Parents meanwhile can keep a watchful eye on their budding artists from one of two coffee shops specially situated to create a viewing area.

Daihatsu has sponsored the Paintbox in Hall 9 at Birmingham NEC on behalf of show organisers, the Society of Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The Paintbox is completely separate from Daihatsu's main stand in Hall 2, where its show cars will be on display.