IT'S a blast from the past.

It has heads turning throughout the streets of Southampton and drivers can't help but beep their horn as they drive by.

Southampton student Jon Ladd has been getting a lot of attention since rolling out in his latest set of wheels - a genuine 1985 Sinclair C5.

With a top speed of 15mph, the grey, one-seater, battery-assisted three-wheeler stands out a mile as it is driven up and down roads in the city.

The 21-year-old picked up the vehicle, which became an infamous worldwide flop when it first went on sale 22 years ago, for £300 on Internet auction site eBay.

As part of a final year project for a degree in graphic design, Jon is looking to re-ignite interest in the iconic failure by promoting it as a great way to travel to help save the environment and cut down on inner-city congestion.

"I wanted to do something that would help save the environment and I initially thought of an electric car, but then I thought of the Sinclair C5 and remembered that it was battery powered but it didn't take off very well," he said.

"But when I saw one I thought I just have to get one."

Bringing the unique three-wheeled device to Southampton, Jon said that the reaction to it has been incredibly positive.

"My mates love it and I took it into university and my tutor stopped the lesson just so he could try it out.

"It's just the way they look and the style. The amount of people that look at you and ask you questions when you go down the street, because it is just such a rare thing now."

Since buying it last month Jon has become an instant fan of the invention.

"Driving them is a lot of fun although it can be scary going along a road and having a giant lorry pass you.

"Safety was definitely one of the issues which stopped it from catching on. That and the fact that it's really not a lot of fun in the winter," he said.

As part of his new found status as a Sinclair C5 owner, Jon recently went to meet other enthusiasts for a day out in High Wycombe.

"There were six of us and we travelled about five miles. It was brilliant fun and we are holding a meeting in Eastleigh in March," he said.

"I would like to do something like a ten-mile journey but would need a lot of batteries first."

"But what I really want to do is have a meeting in Southampton some time in February," he said.

"So if anyone has a C5 and wants to meet up for a day then please get in touch."

To contact Jon about joining him on his Sinclair C5 adventure e-mail hankdesign@hotmail.co.uk.