A system developed by Ealing Council, which warns lorry drivers when cyclists and pedestrians are likely to collide with them, has scooped two awards.

Cycle Safety Shield won the Fleet Safety Analysis and Action category last week at the Brake awards, the road safety charity's annual event.

The new technology is the first of its kind to use cameras that only detect pedestrians, cyclists and motorbikes so that there are no blind spits for lorry drivers.

An alarm sounds to the driver if a cyclist or pedestrian becomes too close to the vehicle.

Designed to prioritise cycle safety, it was trialed on a lorry in Ealing before winning the top spot at the awards last week (October 1).

This is the second triumph for Ealing Council whose idea led to London coming first for Best Innovative Transport City at the TIDE awards, which celebrate transport around Europe.

Cabinet member for transport and environment Bassam Mahfouz said: “The Cycle Safety Shield is life-saving technology which is proving to be a game-changer in the field of road safety as it is recognised for the positive impact it can make.

"With lorries being responsible for two-thirds of cycling deaths in London, this innovative piece of kit, installed on Ealing vehicles, makes such a positive difference and I am delighted and honoured that this has been recognised with awards from Brake and across Europe."

The system will be installed on large goods vehicles by the council using Transport for London funding, with its highways and recycling and waste contractors also rolling out the system on their vehicles.

It follows a trial of the system in 2013 and 2014 which showed that 15 potential collisions with cyclists had been avoided and driver behaviour had improved by 20%.

The trial also demonstrated that improved driving saved £1,000 in fuel costs on each vehicle per year.

Director of Cycle Safety Shield Jon Guest said: “Ealing Council is setting a benchmark for road safety in London and its work fully complements the Mayor’s safer lorry scheme.

"We are very proud to be involved and the fact that the Cycle Safety Shield project is being recognised internationally is an amazing achievement and shows London is leading the way for innovation.”