BODY armour has been boosted by nanotechnology research at Daresbury Laboratory.

Scientists at the world famous lab have been looking at ways to insert nanoparticles of titanium or carbon into body armour to make it lighter and more flexible.

Current body armour relies on stiff and heavy layers of ceramic material.

The Daresbury team have worked with researchers from Tuskegee and Florida Atlantic Universities in the USA.

Daresbury Lab has used its advanced electron and light equipment to investigate ways to make the new materials as strong as possible.

Dr Vin Dhanak said: "Our world-leading instruments let us analyse how the nanoparticles bond with the materials in which they're embedded.

"This will help improve the manufacturing process to eliminate impurities and make the materials stronger."