A LOCAL company is playing a leading role in a nationwide survey to determine the shape of clothes to come.

Select Research of Suckley has to recruit 10,000 adults whose bodies will be electronically measured.

The National Sizing Survey - or Size UK - has been commissioned by the clothing industry to find out the shape of Britons today.

It is the first look at women's body sizes and shapes for half a century and the first ever survey of men.

It is needed because the effects of changing diets and lifestyles are reflected in the sizes and shapes of people's bodies.

Recruitment of volunteers started this week, with retailers inviting customers to sign up, via in-store leaflets, direct mailing and the Internet. Top names such as Debenhams, House of Fraser, Tesco and Littlewoods are among those taking part.

Select's job will be to choose from the volunteers the 10,000 who will actually be measured.

Richard Barnes, Select's MD, said: "We have to select people who are a representative cross-section of the population.

"The group has to be broadly representative of the population of the UK in terms of age, social class, ethnic group and so on. People will be recruited of all shapes and sizes."

He said his company was working with the Office of National Statistics to make sure the sample accurately reflects the UK.

They will then be invited to scanning sessions being held in major cities, including Birmingham and Cardiff.

High-tech booths will be set up, where the volunteers - clad only in their underwear - will be scanned by light beams which will record their measurements.

The data gathered will be used by leading manufacturers and retailers to make sure their clothes really fit.

The survey will be taking place this autumn and results should be published in January.

Select is no stranger to sizing surveys, having conducted major studies in the past.