The technology can be integrated into standard Kevlar body armour to offer increased movement and reduce the overall thickness by up to 45 per cent.

Scientists tested the material by firing a ball bearing-shaped at over 300 metres per second into two test materials – 31 layers of untreated Kevlar and 10 layers of Kevlar combined with the shear-thickening liquid.

Mr Penny added: ‘The Kevlar with the liquid works much faster and the impact isn’t anything like as deep.