A UK company has produced what is claimed to be the first wristwatch that can track and ring-fence a child.

Nu.M8 claims to be the world’s first GPS locator device specifically designed with children in mind, telling you where your child is, anytime - at home or abroad.

The wearer can be located by mobile phone or computer and the watch cannot be removed or deactivated without the "minder's" knowledge.

It is also possible to set up a virtual fence as a ‘safe zone’.  If the child strays outside this zone the "minder" is alerted immediately.

Either removal or straying results in SMS and email messages.

The watch uses the company's own proprietary Cell ID technology for swift approximate location - this is then refined using GPS, claiming an accuracy of 3 metres (presumably using an overlay such as EGNOS or WAAS).  Cell ID will work alone if GPS is unavailable.

Nu.M8 has been designed, manufactured and tested over the last 2 years by UK location services company Lok8u Ltd, based in the UK Midlands.

The watch should be available later in 2009 - the cost is expected to be around £150.

Details from Lok8u