A student who designed a product to make life more comfortable for thousands of cancer patients has reached the national final of a major business competition.

Martina Rieder, a biochemistry and management studies student at Sussex University, now faces seven other regional winners in the Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (Step) Most Enterprising Student of the Year competition.

Martina, 24, won the London and South-East regional heat following an eight-week work placement with Crawley-based medical appliance company Welland Medical.

During her time with the company Martina interviewed patients and carried out chemistry research to enable her to design a more durable and comfortable colostomy flange for bowel cancer sufferers.

Flanges are used to attach waste bags to the skin surrounding a stoma, a surgically created opening in the body. Welland, in Centre Newton Road, now plans to patent Martina's design.

In a separate project, Munich-born Martina identified thousands of pounds of cost-saving measures for Welland, which specialises in products for bowel surgery patients.

Martina, who came to the University of Sussex so she could study her subjects in English, said she was thrilled and surprised to make the final. She said: "I loved working on the projects. There were so many incredible projects, I never thought I'd get to the final."

Helen Raper, personnel manager for Welland, said: "Martina was responsible for making significant cost savings for the company and improving the quality of life for our customers. She excelled herself and we are extremely grateful for her efforts and very proud of her."

The competition draws from students who sign up for Step and this year attracted 1,400 entrants, now whittled down to the shortlist of eight.

The overall winner will be announced at an award ceremony in London on October 6.

Step offers students study-related summer work placements with small to medium-sized businesses.

Patsie Sutcliffe, Sussex manager for Step, has placed more than 500 students in the past 13 years.

She is based at the Sussex Innovation Centre, at the University of Sussex, which guides and supports start-up businesses in the region.

She said: "It is an honour to be involved in watching my Step students grow in stature and confidence."