MALVERN student Jim Doel has completed an innovative design for motorcycle helmets he developed using a grant from car giant Audi.

Mr Doel, who recently finished studying sports product design at London's South Bank University, used a £3,250 grant from the car company's Design Foun-dation to take the idea from paper to product and now hopes it will help to save lives.

The helmet device is worn around the neck and uses combined pneumatics and air bag technology to decelerate the motorcyclist's head and assist the weak postural muscles.

"It will reduce the severity or the occurrence of brain trauma and cervical spine injuries and could prevent fatal or life changing injuries," he said.

Michael Foxton, Audi design foundation manager, said it was its aim to assist designers in getting their projects from the drawing board to working prototype, citing Mr Doel's as the perfect example.

The 21-year-old former Kings School, Worcester pupil, whose family live in Jubilee Drive, started work on the Achilles ACS (Articulation Control System) last summer.

He chose it as part of his final year degree project because he said it was a genuine problem to work on and had the potential to save lives.

Other young inventors can take advantage of £250,000 worth of sponsorship which the foundation has available this year. Prospective applicants with good ideas should log on to www.audidesignfoundation.org or ring 01908 601570.