AIR travellers using Heathrow Airport are to become the first in the country to try out a new state-of-the-art identity system that examines a passenger's eye instead of their passport.

The airport is to become the first in the UK to carry out a large-scale trial the hi-tech iris recognition technology.

BAA hope that the system, which will be used by 2,000 passengers who frequently fly between Heathrow and North America on Virgin and British Airways flights, will cut down queues at immigration control.

Each passenger will have an image of the iris of one of their eyes stored on computer and, instead of showing their passport on arrival, they will go to a special kiosk where a camera will check that the iris matches the one they have on record. If so, they will be admitted to the airport.