STUDENT Allison Robinson's futuristic baby cot design nearly landed her the top prize in a national design competition.

The 18-year-old former Hartlepool Sixth Form College student was one of 28 finalists displaying design projects in a ceremony at Baltic Contemporary Arts Centre in Gateshead last Saturday.

Her baby cot design took her to the final of the Audi Design Foundation National Young Designer of the Year award where she just missed out on first prize.

Allison's design dispenses with the conventional drop-side to cots, which she considered to be a potential hazard, and uses contemporary design materials.

She qualified for a place in the final by winning a regional heat at Lookers Audi in Thornaby.

Her prize for winning the heat was a trip to Audi's high-tech car plant near Munich in Germany.

Allison, who will soon start an industrial design course at the University of Teesside, said: "The way I now approach design has changed after I won the heat in May.

"I now have more confidence in myself to get where I want in life.

"Overall, the experience of the competition has been really amazing."