A COUNTY Durham company hopes its road safety invention will put it streets ahead of the competition.

Design and manufacturing firm Reevu Ltd, based in Low Willington, near Crook, has created a new cycling helmet with a rear view mirror system.

The helmets are aimed to give cyclists or bikers a clear view of the road behind them without them having to look over their shoulder.

Already being distributed in parts of America, Japan, Europe and Australia the Reevu helmet is about to be launched worldwide. There are also plans to develop the design to suit the motor sport market.

Reevu Ltd was formed four years ago and has already expanded to a workforce of more than 80.

The company's operations director Billy Morgan said: "We are delighted with this product and feel that it will make a dramatic impact on road safety by reducing the number of cycling and motorcycling accidents around the world.

"It is a highly sophisticated device that has taken years to perfect into a production version, consequently we have a number of patents.

"To ensure we have a strong footing in this very competitive marketplace it is vital we continue to protect our intellectual property."