A SUNDERLAND University graduate has won a national award for the tablet dispenser he invented.

Jonathon Southgate, 28, scooped top prize in the Institution of Engineering Designers' annual competition to find the best student project.

He designed a gadget that dispenses medicine at the correct time as part of his BSc product design programme at the university.

His work has already been awarded a £750 grant by the Audi Foundation, which supports young engineers, to build a prototype.

Jonathon, who lives in Ovingham, Northumberland, is currently working with experts at Innovation North to develop the project further.

He said: "I was thrilled to win the award and pleased to return to Sunderland to collect my prize.''

Bryan Attewell, of the university's school of computing, engineering and technology, said: "Jonathon has worked extremely hard on this project and he richly deserves this recognition from the IED.''

Jonathon's prize includes membership of the Institution of Engineering Designers for a year, and an engraved goblet.