A student has been nominated for an engineering award after the Grenfell Tower disaster inspired him to create an app to help people evacuate burning buildings.

Baran Korkmaz, from Highams Park School, has earned a spot in the finals of The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Competition with the invention of a mobile augmented reality app.

The 14-year-old was so deeply affected by the tragedy that took place at the west London tower block last summer he developed the app, which helps users navigate to building exits in sufficient time in the event of a fire.

The system uses inexpensive Google cardboard goggles, which can turn a smartphone into a virtual reality headset, to guide users to their nearest fire exits, as well as communicate with emergency services.

Baran will be invited to attend the competition finals, which are taking place at The Big Bang Fair at Birmingham’s NEC arena next month.

The competition is organised by non-profit organisation Engineering UK.

Beth Elgood, from EngineeringUK, said: “Baran really impressed the judges with his innovative project and we’re excited to see how he will do at the finals at the fair.”