GERMAN motor firm Audi is backing a North-East pensioner whose invention could revolutionise motoring.

The company has pledged £3,000 towards Edward Allen's bid to build a prototype of his innovative crankshaft design

Having received a patent on the bicycle version of the design, Mr Allen, 72, is awaiting similar recognition for his application of the shaft on a three-cylinder engine.

Based on the reduction of wasted exertion, the design uses two pedals which work in an up and down motion, rather than revolutions.

As well as cutting out pointless effort, the invention gives extra output, making it ideal for uphill cycling.

When a cyclist pedals in revolutions, half of the motion, when the foot is returning to the top of its arc, has no effect on the propulsion of the bike.

And the point when the pedals are at the top and bottom of the circle also causes energy to be wasted.

The new design means that when one pedal is at the top of its movement, the other still has some way to go down.

Mr Allen, of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, a member of the Institute of Patentees and Inventors, said: "It eliminates the top and bottom dead centres happening at the same time."

In an internal combustion engine, when a piston reaches top or bottom dead centre it has expended all its energy. It needs the explosive power of an igniting fuel-air mixture to begin the cycle again.

By staggering the moment when the pistons reach this point, Mr Allen's crank should produce more power with no increase in fuel consumption.

Instead of each full rotation of a traditional crankshaft providing 180 degrees of power, Mr Allen says his invention gives 270 degrees per cycle.

Mr Allen grew up in nearby Shildon and worked as a crane operator, and spent time in the RAF and Merchant Navy.

His big funding breakthrough came when he saw an article in The Northern Echo saying Audi was offering grants to inventors.

Having had a similar but less effective design patented many years ago, he started work on this latest version two years ago, initially starting with the engine, but putting that on hold because of the cost.

Now he plans to press ahead with an engine, thanks to help from the car manufacturer.

"It's very exciting," he said. "I'm very grateful to Audi for showing such faith in my invention."