A Bushey-based company has won a prestigious enterprise award in recognition of a device that could help save soldiers’ lives.

Smiths Detection, which employs some 300 workers at its park Avenue offices, has won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for developing a sophisticated, portable chemical warfare detector.

The device, recognised in the Innovation category at the annual awards, is not much bigger than a man’s hand and can detect minute traces of deadly chemical agents on the battle field.

Company president Stephen Phipson, CBE, said: “This prestigious award recognises the achievement of a highly skilled and committed workforce who have set the gold standard for advanced protection against chemical warfare agents.”

The LCD device can also act as a screening and survey device and is used by forces around the world to detect threatening packages. The US military has deployed some 57,000 of the units to its troops.

The government-sponsored awards are made annually by The Queen and recognise excellence in design, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.