Walking adverts take first steps

THE latest form of advertising is about to hit London's streets with models strolling around wearing lightweight television screens across their chests.

The Adwalker resembles a small flak jacket incorporating an LCD screen linked to the internet and containing a small printer that can produce tickets or discount vouchers for the products advertised.

Models wearing the jacket promote goods or events at specific sites. For example, they may be seen at the Glastonbury Festival selling music downloads and gig tickets, or offering discounts on CDs.

Adwalker is a young Irish company that has already sold the concept to Coors Light, Lucozade and Volvo. Today it signed a deal with outdoor advertising company Poster Publicity, whose clients include British Airways, Levi's, Estée Lauder and Visa.

Chief executive Simon Crisp said the deal with Poster Publicity should see Adwalker build a network operating in 11 countries within the next three years.