A Lake District sports brand has teamed up with scientific experts to launch a world first in footwear.

inov-8, which has its headquarters in Staveley, has teamed up with The University of Manchester to become the first company to incorporate graphene into running and fitness shoes.

Laboratory tests have shown that the rubber outsoles of these shoes, which will be new to market in 2018, are stronger, more stretchy and more resistant to wear.

Graphene is the thinnest material on earth and is 200 times stronger than steel.

First isolated at The University of Manchester in 2004, it’s the world’s first two-dimensional material at just one-atom thick.

Graphene is produced from graphite, first mined in the Lake District more than 450 years ago.

Michael Price, inov-8 product and marketing director, said: “Off-road runners and fitness athletes live at the sporting extreme and need the stickiest outsole grip possible to optimize their performance, be that when running on wet trails or working out in sweaty gyms.

"For too long, they have had to compromise this need for grip with the knowledge that such rubber wears down quickly.

“Now, utilising the groundbreaking properties of graphene, there is no compromise."

The new rubber has been developed with the National Graphene Institute at The University of Manchester.

inov-8 was founded in 2003. The brand now trades in 68 countries.

Ian Bailey, the firm's chief executive, said: "Product innovation is the number one priority for our brand.

"The pioneering collaboration between inov-8 and the The University of Manchester puts us – and Britain – at the forefront of a graphene sports footwear revolution.

“And this is just the start, as the potential of graphene really is limitless."