Teenage boffins have struck a blow for young asthma sufferers by designing toys to help make their breathing exercises more enjoyable.

The range of toys have been designed and made by students at Bradford's Dixons City Technology College to encourage children with the respiratory disorder to practice blowing and sucking techniques needed to use inhalers and other medication.

After eight weeks in the design, construction and testing stages the finishing touches are now being put to almost a dozen toys and games.

But they should be ready for use by the four to ten-year-olds who attend the fortnightly asthma clinic at Shipley Health Centre by September.

The devices range from a blow football game to a Mickey Mouse figure with balloons for ears which inflate when users blow through a tube.

Straw-based toys encourage youngsters to do sucking exercises and the aids even include a jack-in-the-box which lights up electronically, and a model of a chest featuring inflatable fabric lungs.

Pupils from two Year Nine design and technology classes at Dixons began work on the toys after being approached by Dilys Bruce, practice nurse at the health centre.

She said: "We were trying to think of ways that would make the clinic more interesting and thought it would be nice if we had some action toys like this.

"The aim is to improve the children's enjoyment of the asthma clinic and get them to practice their blowing and sucking.

"The students have come up with the most incredible range of fun toys which will hopefully help make the children look forward to coming and if they're having fun it will be far easier to get them to understand what they should do to take their medication.''

Brian Russell, head of design and technology at Dixons CTC, said: "They came up with some very good ideas and the toys are very well matched to the ages they're aimed at."