Trendy Trainers for under £8

They have the hi-tech, sleek looks and obligatory superstar endorsement that usually cost an arm and a leg... but these trainers are the answer to every hardup parent's prayer.

That's because, far from costing the best part of £100, the Starbury One trainers sell for slightly less than £8 - and that hasn't stopped them becoming a must-have fashion accessory in the US.

They're the brainchild of basketball star Stephon Marbury, who has vowed to take on the sportswear firms that sell celebrity-endorsed clothes at over-inflated prices.

If successful, Marbury's idea could take off in the UK, slashing the price of branded sportswear.

It's a prospect that delights the National Consumers' Association, which has called on England's millionaire football stars to follow Marbury's example.

So far, Starbury Ones have been hugely popular in the US, with a month's supply flying off the shelves in just three days.

Parents were overwhelmed by the basketball player's concept of quality sportswear at almost cost price.

"They were crying and thanking Stephon for doing something," says Erin Patton, head of the marketing agency behind the idea.

The hip trainers incorporate the same technical features as top brands such as Nike and Reebok, which retail for up to £120.

And Marbury, the fifth highest paid player in the NBA, will wear the shoes in league games with no upfront payment for endorsing them. Instead he'll receive royalties depending on how many are sold.

The price is kept to a minimum by mass production and minimal marketing.

Marbury, who grew up in the tough urban environment of Coney Island in New York, talks of his "change the world" vision.

The star says that it was seeing his parents struggling to raise him and his six brothers and sisters that influenced the Starbury launch.

Born in 1977, Marbury's childhood was blighted by continuing struggles to make ends meet.

Once the teenager's skills on the court began to attract attention he played for a succession of teams and has been with the New York Knicks since 2004.

Married to La Tasha, the father-of-three picks up £8.7million a year as a point guard. But unlike so many bling-obsessed Premiership stars, Marbury has managed to keep his feet on the ground.

At the launch of the Starbury Collection - which also includes various casual-wear items, nearly all priced under £5 - Marbury said: "Kids and parents shouldn't have the pressure to spend so much to feel good about the way they look."