Diamond Consulting Services has developed the advanced Idris technology which detects traffic patterns on our roads, and can also detect the type of vehicle being driven, its speed, and even whether it is travelling forward or in reverse, or if it is straddling two lanes.

States in America use Idris to identify vehicles going through their automatic tolling stations, and the Australian authorities are currently trialling the technology to see how it can improve their speed enforcement systems.

This is not the first time DCS has won recognition for its work.

In 2006, they won the Queen's Award for Enterprise- International Trade.

And in 1998, they were given a UK Government Smart Award grant to develop 'vehicle axle recognition' technology, which records exactly how many axles a lorry has, even if, as is often the case with large trucks, they are not all in contact with the road surface- five years later, their progress to a fully commercialised product range was rewarded with a follow-up Smart Achievement Award.

Teri England, marketing and project manager, said: "Idris is about as high-tech as you can get.

"We are a small Bucks company, even now we only have nine full time staff, yet we operate around the world.

"It shows British technology can be exported abroad, and the award is a very high accolade."