The first shoes to expand with the growing foot of a child have been introduced to shops in Germany. The ‘Max the Worm’ shoes have been designed by a US sportswear maker K2.

The shoe has a flexible design with an extending concertina panel between the toe and heel. One push of a silver button and the panel can be lengthened to accommodate quickly growing feet and bring relief to frustrated parents who want to avoid buying their children countless pairs of new shoes.

The launch in Germany is not accidental, as recent economic worries have put even greater pressure on already cost-conscious Germans. Bernadette Lingg, a spokeswoman for K2 said “the German market for children's shoes is in a terrible state due to the number of imported models and aggressive prices." It is therefore expected that if the product succeeds there it will succeed anywhere.