You may not believe your eyes, but scientists at Yorkshire Water have helped develop a form of x-ray specs that are set to revolutionise the way underground work is done.

Once the domain of heroes like Superman, now workers will be able to see pipes and mains deep underground - and save having to dig up large tracts of road.

The water company has been working with Nottingham University and map-maker Ordnance Survey on the project to transform the way underground services are surveyed and come up with the 'video goggles'.

The first full-scale trial has been hailed a huge success and now camera makers Leica plan to put a compact version of the video goggles on the market in two years if demand is high.

Mike Turner, Yorkshire Water's manager of asset records, said: "Yorkshire Water is the world's first utility to be able to use this technology which allows someone to view underground pipes and mains as they walk along the street.

"Before this technology was developed, the only way to assess the position and type of underground pipes, valves and mains when on site was to look at two-dimensional images on laptop computers or study paper records and maps.

"Through the video goggles, our surveyors can now see the size and shapes and exact position of the underground pipes, water mains and sewers in 3D as they walk around.

"It really gives us the ability in effect to see right through the depth of the soil and observe the pipe network in startling clarity."

The technique should lead to more efficient leak detection which will the save the company thousands of pounds and save having to dig up roads just to find out what's going on.

The goggles work by using smart technology.

Advanced Global Positioning System, video and Yorkshire Water's Ordnance Survey-based computerised mapping have all played a part.

Satellites and base stations pinpoint where the goggles are being used and in which direction they are being pointed.

The in-built software then identifies the part of the ground being looked at by the wearer and accesses the underground information that Yorkshire Water holds on its mapping database.

Mr Turner said: "The wearer sees a 3D image, complete with accurate perspective, of the pipes and sewers that are 900mm or more below the surface."