A MALVERN firefighter knows his grass is a cut above the rest thanks to his new lawn-mowing robot.

Nic Browning is one of 100 green-fingered guinea pigs who hedged their bets before agreeing to try out the Robomow for Friendly Robotics UK Ltd.

The £500 machine, believed to be the world's first fully intelligent lawn mower, is guided by a perimeter wire marking the lawn's boundaries and has built-in sensors to manoeuvre itself around obstacles.

Applicants were asked to submit a layout of their garden as well as personal information to allow Friendly Robotics to pick a cross-section of gardeners from all over Britain.

Mr Browning, of Tanhouse Lane, Upper Howsell, was among thousands of applicants who agreed to turf out their old mowers in place of the robot.

In return for keeping the machine for a year, he is expected to make regular reports to the manufacturer on its progress.

"I'm really pleased with it," said the 32-year-old firefighter, who responded to an advert in a national newspaper.

"The grass looks healthier and it gives me the free time I need to tend the other parts of my garden which often get neglected because the grass needs cutting.

"The robot is bright yellow, like a shell. It looks like something out of Star Wars.

"The neighbours are fascinated by it"

A spokesman for the manufacturers said the robot was quiet and environmentally-friendly.

"It's entirely safe to use as built-in sensors ensure that, should it come into contact with any unexpected objects or tips, it stops automatically and the blades shut off - good news for basking cats or garden gnomes," she said.

"Not only does it cut the grass evenly and neatly but also recycles the grass by mulching the clippings and transferring the nutrients into the soil."