A FORMER pupil of Poynton High School has come up with a design that will help cash-strapped farmers in Romania.

Markus Theobald has produced a horse-drawn hay-cutter that can be easily used by farmers in the Eastern European country, which is struggling to develop since emerging from the yoke of Communism.

Markus, 21, is currently in the fourth year of a mechanical engineering degree at Southampton University. His family home is in Tewkesbury Close, Poynton.

Markus said: "Romanian farmers still harvest hay by hand and scythe, as tractors are beyond their means financially. They do, however, have a large number of horses.

"The design is specifically tailored to Romanian conditions, very steep hillsides and narrow gates, and small horses. This requires the design to be lightweight and stable."

Markus has been awarded £1,150 from the Audi Design Foundation. He used the money to buy components for his invention. He began the project last October and it is currently in the final design stage. Markus hopes to begin tests during April.