A pedestrian 'slow lane' for people using their mobile phones is to be painted in Spinningfields.

The idea, a marketing stunt from online retailer AO.com, is to stop mobile phone 'zombies' from bumping into each other in the street.

The 75m long lanes will be in place on Hardman Boulevard for one day only.

According to a post on the Spinningfields Facebook page, 'research has shown that Manchester is the hot-spot for bumping into people on the street due to being too busy looking down at your phone'.

The post adds: "For just one day, busy, tech-savvy workers on Spinningfields will be able to email, text and message without the fear of bumping into anyone!"

It may be a light-hearted gimmick, but the concept of mobile phone safety for pedestrians is fast becoming a genuine topic of public concern.

As far aback as 2008, a busy street in London installed padded lampposts to protect people from walking and texting accidents.

A survey in 2014 found as many as one in seven pedestrians admitted crossing the road without looking because their phone distracted them.

(Image: Spinningfields)

Young people are particularly vulnerable.

As many as 84pc of 16 to 24-year-olds admitted they have had a technology-related mishap, according to figures release for Accident Awareness Week in 2015.

Mobile phone lanes for texting pedestrians have been brought in in the Chinese of city of Chongqing and smartphone distraction has even been blamed for a sharp rise in pedestrian deaths in the US in recent years.

The Spinningfields stunt was met with a mixture of scepticism and amusement on social media.

"Or here's an idea, people could just watch where they are going, especially as Manchester is such a busy place," wrote Christina Hand.

But Karen Marie replied: "Could do with one of these at piccadilly train station as well as a it's rush hour & I don't know where I'm going lane! (sic)"

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