AN innovative “Slurry Pit Saver” idea has won the top ABP Farm SafetyAward at this year’s BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE).

Students Abbey Hehir, Rebecca Murphy and Ryely Cantrell from County Clare were the brains behind the life-saving project.

The students, from St John Bosco Community College in Kildysart, impressed the judges with their innovative project, designed to prevent accidental deaths in slurry pits on Irish farms.

The device in question is powered by solar energy and uses infrared sensors that detect if a large object has entered the slurry pit. The device then sends an alert to a list of mobile phones via an app.

For the sixth consecutive year, ABP Food Group has sponsored the Farm Safety category, which year-on-year has produced ground-breaking projects from students across the country.