A local mum has pioneered a new road safety solution.

Grainne Kelly from Londonderry was so fed up with the lack of proper safety provision for children travelling in cars that she took matters into her own hands and came up with an innovative solution.

Grainne has developed what she claimed is the world's first inflatable, safety approved and regulated car booster seat, BubbleBum, in response to her own frustration and experience as a mother and travel agent.

"I just wanted to create a product that I could send everywhere with my children to keep them safe in the event of unexpected journeys," she explained.

"Modern families do a lot of travelling in cars, coaches and taxis, both here and abroad - bulky booster seats just aren't practical to carry around even for one child, never mind if you have two or three.

"The BubbleBum has been designed to be small, light, practical and so easy to use that it's perfect even for quick taxi journeys. Plus it looks good, so kids don't mind carrying it around in their rucksacks or schoolbags," Grainne said.

She has made it her (late) new year's resolution to raise public awareness of child car safety.

In doing so she hopes that Government will review and update what she describes as dated legislation which includes exemptions permitting children to travel unprotected without an appropriate booster seat for 'unexpected' journeys.

Research commissioned by Grainne in Northern Ireland revealed that four out of ten primary school children are transported to and from school without a booster seat.

She finds it shocking that many adults responsible for carrying children in their vehicles simply aren’t taking the necessary precautions.

"There should be no excuse for those who put their young passengers at risk. The safety of children should be of paramount importance," said Grainne.

Further information on the BubbleBum is available at www.bubblebum.co.uk

(BMcC/GK)