UK pubcaster BBC has launched new kids app, Escargot Escape Artistes, designed by the 12-year-old winner of  CBBC’s Appsolute Genius competition.

Available for free on iOS and Android devices, the app was created by 12-year-old Alex from Hampshire and developed by Bristol, England-based Aardman Animations.

The competition is part of the Beeb’s Make It Digital campaign, which aims to bolster kids coding and digital tech skills. Open to children ages six to 12, it ran alongside CBBC series Appsolute Genius with Dick and Dom, in which CBBC stars Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood discover the geniuses who shaped the world of coding, computer programming and gaming.

Escargot Escape Artistes follows the adventures of ‘Le Dude,’ a plucky snail escaping the head chef of the Eiffel Tower restaurant. An auto-runner game, it consists of three core levels (the floors of the tower), with an unlockable endless mode due out soon. As they travel up the tower, players must avoid pitfalls, burning lightbulbs and the hot-in-pursuit chef.

The user-generated offering features appearances from a roster of BBC characters, including Hacker the dog and wildlife presenter Steve Backshall.

For its design, the app’s art is influenced by vintage Paris, with Art Nouveau elements and a color palette similar to classic French animation and cinema.

Along with first devising the game, Alex also helped in the development of the visual design, game design and gameplay testing.

Timed to the app launch, a dedicated Appsolute Genius episode is set to air on CBBC, following Alex as he heads to Aardman Animations to see how his winning idea was developed and made into a gaming app.