A MALVERN firm's high-tech invention could play a major role at this year's football World Cup.

Fleet (Line Markers) Ltd, on Spring Lane North, hopes to win the contract to mark out the pitches at the host grounds in Germany in June.

The firm will meet with FIFA in February to demonstrate its new laser-guided Beamrider, which can mark out a pitch with unrivalled speed and accuracy.

Fleet sales manager Steve Hayman said he was hopeful of securing the deal.

"I'm 95 percent sure we'll get to use the Beamrider for at least nine of the 12 World Cup stadiums," he said.

If the World Cup deal goes ahead, June will be a busy month for Fleet. Although it has only produced eight demonstration models to date, it will officially launch Beamrider in the same month as the World Cup.

Many of the world's biggest sports clubs, including Ajax and Newcastle United, have shown keen interest in the machine and Mr Hayward is looking forward to what he believes could be a fantastic year.

"Everyone here is very, very excited, it's going to be a real winner," he said. "It's great for Malvern to have something the whole sports industry is talking about."

Meanwhile, the Beamrider could be given a good warm-up before Germany.

Mr Hayman recently held discussions with NFL representatives in Orlando, USA, and believes there is a good chance it could be used to mark the pitch for this year's Superbowl in Detroit on Sunday, February 5.

"The Beamrider blew them away," he said.