Airshower sucks up dust as asthma sufferers sleep

London doctors are taking part in the world's first major trial of a "space age" cure for asthma.

Allergy experts believe the air cleaning machine being tested by a team at Imperial College could bring hope to thousands of patients.

Tests are being carried out on 75 children using the Airshower, which sucks up dust and pollen from the air they breathe while asleep.

It is already used to sterilise operating theatres and decontaminate staff in laboratories and nuclear plants.

But this is the first time the £2,000 machine has been tested as an allergy cure. Patients could soon get the treatment on prescription if NHS bosses give the go-ahead. One in three children now suffers an allergy and dust mites are the single biggest cause of asthma. They live in mattresses and their droppings are laden with allergens which only affect people at night when these are released into the air.

The Airshower is made by Airsonett AB in Sweden. Dr Robert Boyle, who is involved in the trials at Imperial College, said the technology was a breakthrough: "We've been trying to do this for 20 years. It's bringing clean air technology to a bedside setting for the first time."

St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, part of Imperial College healthcare NHS trust, is testing the machine with children over seven who use an inhaler on a daily basis.

They will make seven visits to the hospital over the next year. To take part, call 07872 850262.