And despite high-profile anti-landmine campaigns, championed amongst others by the Princess, clearing the world's minefields at current rates will take generations.

Clearing landmines is a slow and risky business

The new system aims to do the job more quickly, more effectively, and more cheaply.

Its inventor says he set to work when he saw pictures of the Princess being shown manual mine clearance techniques - essentially individuals probing with rods - which had not changed in over three decades.

His invention combines a machine which stamps the ground with multiple mechanical feet, setting off landmines, with another device which sifts the soil to remove fragments and unexploded material.

Remote control

The devices are remotely controlled, so the operators can stay at a safe distance.

They are also much lighter than comparable systems, and easy to maintain - key considerations as most minefields are in inaccessible, underdeveloped regions.

The makers say one minefield in Bosnia which teams recently took three months to clear could have been dealt with by their system in two-and-a-half days.

It is no panacea - there are types of terrain it can't handle, like forests and built-up areas. And it is still only at the prototype stage.

Two machines will be sent to Bosnia later this year for three months of trials.

Experts say that, if the trials are successful and the right funding is available, the new system could greatly speed up mine clearance operations.