Edinburgh Student 'crowned' Glasgow Audi 'Young Designer of the Year'

James Loudon, from Barnton, Edinburgh, has won the Glasgow Audi "Young Designer of the Year" title.

The 18-year-old's "bicycle security alarm" project was judged to be the most innovative and challenging design on show. He attends Merchiston Castle School in Colinton Road, Edinburgh.

From an initial entry, 25 technology and design students from Highlands, Perthshire, Ayrshire and Midlothian, studying either AS or A2 design, BTEC or Advanced GNVQ in technology or textiles, aged between 16-20, were invited to discuss and display their designs at Glasgow Audi in Hillington Road, Braehead, Glasgow - the largest Audi Centre in Europe - yesterday (12 May).

Loudon received £200 and will also get an all-expenses paid trip to Audi's state-of-the-art Design Studio and car production factory in Ingolstadt, Germany. James, along with the successful students from a further 13 Regional semi-finals staged throughout the UK in May, will earn a place in the National Final at the BALTIC in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, on 9 September.

Grace Haines, 17, from Laggan near Newtonmore, a student at Kingussie High School netted the runners-up prize. Former Kingussie student Amy Dawson was a 2003 Audi Foundation Young Designer of the Year Finalist. Third place went to Digby Legge, 17, from Forgandenny near Perth, who attends the Strathallan School, Forgandenny.

The ultimate National Young Designer of the Year will receive £5,000 towards university fees while the winning student's school wins £5,000 for its Design and Technology department. The outright National winner will also enjoy a placement at the Audi Design Studio in Germany.