A Sixth Form Product Design student at Kingsbridge Community College has lost his A level project during testing in Kingsbridge Estuary.

He had been working with the Salcombe Harbour Master and Nigel Mortimer of the South Hams AONB to develop a temperature sensing device to help with monitoring the Red Tides that affect the Kingsbridge Estuary at certain times of the year.

After many months of work developing the circuitry, the product had been fixed in a waterproof container and attached to a buoy near Tacket Wood on April 39, and was to be collected on Tuesday, May 2, to check the data sensor and waterproofing.

However, when the student ventured out to the buoy to retrieve the project, he was shocked to find that it wasn’t floating. He dived down to see if the project was still attached to the chain but stuck in the mud, to find out it had been removed.

Martyn Luckhurst , Head of Design Technology at KCC, said: “Any information to its safe recovery will be greatly appreciated as the container and circuit form a major part of his A level assessment. Please ring the college on 01548 852641 if you have any information.”