A team from the University of Bath and Bath Spa University are in the process of designing a helmet to stop motorbike riders damaging their hearing.

Research has shown that up to 40% of professional motorcyclists - such as police and paramedics - suffer significant hearing loss, believed to be caused by the noise created as air flows over the riders helmets during a journey.

As well as potentially damaging their hearing, higher noise levels can also reduce bikers' ability to concentrate.

Dr Michael Carley, who is leading the research programme, said: "Our long-term goal is to make motorcycling less damaging, by designing new helmets which make riding less noisy".