"We are hoping that the people of Essex will volunteer their time - and their walking style - to the project.

"When we are working with patients it is important to have a reference database of 'normal' gait to compare them to. The only database we have is of the New York population and we believe there may be slight but still significant differences to the way our local population walks due to the different racial make-up of the two groups.

"We are looking for volunteers, aged 18 or over, who are able to walk without impediment. The volunteers will have the force of their steps measured by special pressure plates embedded in the floor while their gait will be recorded by 3D motion capture, which is similar to the systems used by the CGI departments of Hollywood studios.

"Although people will have small markers attached to the 'bony' parts of their body, such as their pelvis, feet, and shoulders, taking part in the study will be totally painless and the biomechanics data gathered will be of great value to our future work."