Student wins prize for art device

Tom's invention is being tested at two art galleries

A mechanical engineering student at the University of Bath has won an award for designing an anti-theft device for art galleries.

Tom Howard, who is studying for a doctorate, invented a locking system to stop the theft of valuable paintings.

The entire mechanism can be placed inside the paintings' frames so its visual appreciation is not affected.

The Artsmart device won third prize in this year's Scientific Award BMW Group competition.

The system is now being tested in two galleries and is at final prototype stage for mass production.

Tom said: "It's a very exciting time because the system is now actually being used.

"Although it's hard work producing the final product and doing a doctorate at the same time, it's well worth the effort to see something that will be of practical use for galleries being developed."