Bling is not just for young rappers - now it's for silver surfers too.

A specialist Balham firm has created the world's most expensive hearing aid, cast in solid 24-carat gold and encrusted with 220 diamonds.

The revolutionary aid means even aging hip hop aficionados, reeling from years of overexposure to deafening bass beats, can get help for their hearing without looking like they are signing up for the blue rinse brigade.

But the hearing aid, declared the world's "blingiest" by maker P C Werth Ltd of Nightingale Lane, does not come cheap - retailing at £25,000.

However for that money you don't just get gold and diamonds.

The aid comes with a handy remote that allows wearers to tweak it's settings to maximise its performance in various situations. It also uses the latest Widex digital technology.

Specialist jeweller Barry Moule had to be called in to help create the unique device. He said: "Though I have produced exotic items such as jewel encrusted mobile phones in the past this is the most unusual project in my career."

Lawrence Werth, of the aid makers P C Werth, added: "As digital hearing aid technology has advanced wearers have become increasingly proud of the devices and the effects they have on their lives.

"Combine this with an ever younger age profile for hearing aid wearers and more and more clients advertise the fact they use an aid and even wear them as pieces of jewellery."

For more information visit www.widex.co.uk