Student inspired by hotel blaze

Anton Bowness is to exhibit his design in London

The death of three people in a hotel fire in Cornwall inspired a university student in Newcastle to develop a potentially life-saving escape system.

Northumbria University product design student Anton Bowness, from Kirkland in Cumbria, is to show the system at a major exhibition in London next month.

The 22-year-old's design uses pulsating lights to guide guests to safety.

He spoke to those caught up in the Penhallow Hotel fire in 2007 as part of his research.

In the event of a fire, hotel guests would follow the direction of pulsating red lights.

These lights guide them towards green pulsating lights which indicate that guests are approaching the nearest fire exit and safety.

'Prove vital'

Mr Bowness said: "I was inspired by the possibility of saving lives and although hotel fires are relatively rare, the fire in Cornwall last year illustrates just how important it is for you to take notice of your new surroundings.

"I tested the device at the Merchant Navy Fire Training Centre in South Shields and used an infra red camera to film two different scenarios.

"In the first test, there were no lights available to guide people to safety and it took six minutes for them to evacuate the building.

"In the second scenario the lights on my device were activated and it took just one minute for a full evacuation. That five minutes could prove vital in a real life situation."

The device is to go on show at the Business Design Centre in London next month.