A UNIQUE radar system created by scientists in Malvern could help prevent people being killed and maimed by undetected mines in former war zones.

The new Ultra Wide Band radar, which has taken a decade to develop at DERA, has proven to be highly successful at detecting mines on the first airborne mine-seeker.

The system, fitted to an airship which has been developed in the Midlands, has exceeded expectations after being tested on the minefields in Kosovo.

Mike Kendrick, chairman of the Mineseeker Foundation, said the brilliant performance of the airship was tangible evidence the system worked.

The foundation was set up as a non-profit venture between Malvern's DERA and the Lightship Group in Telford, Shropshire, to raise £10m to develop and deploy five airships around the world.

"These results give us the first tangible evidence of the radar's true capacity," he said.

"We have great confidence Mineseeker will soon offer real value to the de-miner's tool kit. We are now in a position to find the necessary funding to take the radar through the final steps of development."

The foundation believes the results confirms the system - backed by Nelson Mandela and Sir Richard Branson - is a major benefit to bomb disposal experts mapping minefields in post conflict sites around the world.

The system was also tested at the Mine Action Co-ordination Centre's accreditation site in Kosovo, which is used to train Explosive Detection Dogs.

In tests, the radar, which uses a lower frequency than conventional radar, proved highly successful at locating the mines - even plastic anti-personal landmines.

Dr Paul Bishop, project director for Mineseeker at Malvern's DERA, said he was delighted with the excellent results but stressed it would never replace "the man on the ground."

"We're thrilled to be involved in such a worth while project," he said.

"These results prove that the system can be used to direct scarce resources quickly and with maximum effect, but it won't replace those people working on the ground."