HOME Secretary David Blunkett took time off from his other duties to present a top award to a specialist company for its digital product EarAngel.

Mr Blunkett presented Fulcrum Voice Technology with The John Connell Technology Award 2004 from The Noise Abatement Society on October 26 at the House of Commons.

EarAngel, a digital noise limiter, was designed and manufactured by Fulcrum Voice Technology, part of the Fulcrum Group of Companies, at Hillbottom Road, High Wycombe, to provide protection for headset users against the risks of acoustic shock, particularly in the emergency services.

The original idea for EarAngel came from the need to protect operators receiving emergency calls on behalf of the emergency services, who were sometimes subjected to unacceptably high levels of noise, such as fire alarms.

The group maintains close relationships with academic institutions across Europe and works closely with manufacturers in telecommunications and radio communications.

Fulcrum also works with the Health and Safety Executive.

Peter Wakeham, director of The Noise Abatement Society said: "It is a most amazing invention.

"They just deserved the award.

"EarAngel is a simple piece of equipment to install and will stop injuries to people's hearing.

"It should be made compulsory to anyone who spends a long time on the phone, such as at call centres or telephone exchanges."

Bob Aird, chairman of the Fulcrum Group, pictured receiving the award from Mr Blunkett, said: "Essentially we are all very proud of our achievement and the leading position in terms of the technology and the hearing protection it can afford to people around the world."