A TEENAGER who was knocked off his bike by a car drew inspiration from his accident to design safety equipment for cyclists.

Christopher Roe, 17, from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, was wearing a fluorescent jacket and had rear and front lights on his bike when the accident happened, but he realised they were not enough to make him stand out in poor light.

He has come up with a hand-operated glove that uses flashing lights to act as indicators, as part of his design and technology A-level course at King's School in Tynemouth.

Five red light-emitting diodes are mounted on the back of the gloves. They are lit by pushing a switch on the index finger.

Christopher said: "When I was knocked over I realised the difficulty that motorists have in spotting cyclists on the road. When I got the opportunity to make the product as part of my design and technology A-level course I was really pleased."

His design has been entered for the Spirit of Innovation Awards, organised by the North East of England Business and Innovation Centre.

A £1,000 prize is on offer in the student category of the awards, to be judged in June. The overall winner of the contest will receive an additional £5,000.