Robot cars which can drive themselves could be a reality within the next ten years.

A Shoreham firm has been working on developing the Knight Rider-style cars which leave motorists free to relax, read a newspaper or chat on their mobile phone while travelling.

Hands-free cars could not only be driven by the likes of Sylvester Stallone in futuristic films like Demolition Man but by ordinary commuters across Europe by the end of the decade.

Automotive engineering company Ricardo UK, in Cecil Parsley Way, Shoreham, is co-ordinating the EU project to develop a safe “road train” for use on motorways.

The Safe Road Trains for the Environment (Sarfre) project would see vehicles equipped with transmitters and receivers, meaning six to eight cars could be controlled by a single lead vehicle.

The convoy of vehicles would be led by a professional driver in a lorry, bus or taxi. Drivers' satellite navigation systems will inform them if there is a roadtrain ahead travelling the same route as them. Drivers will be able to take control of their vehicles again if they wish to leave the convoy.

The robotically controlled vehicles will travel closer together than normal cars, benefitting from reduced air pressure from the slip stream of the lead vehicle and reducing fuel consumption by about 20%.

The road trains will be tried out on test tracks in the UK, Spain and Sweden from 2011, before being trialled on public roads in Spain.