Up at heel: Helena steps out in the springy shoes

A true English eccentric, she has never been one to follow the dictates of fashion.

But Helena Bonham Carter drew more attention than usual when she stepped out in a pair of spring-heeled shoes.

The 42-year-old actress teamed the footwear, called Z-CoiL Mary Janes, with a pair of black and white striped tights.

As well as making a style statement, the shoes are at the forefront of fighting back pain.

The spring heel, supported by a 3in steel coil, is designed to act as a shock absorber.

Meanwhile, the rounded toe at the ball of the foot has a 3/4in cushion which lessens the impact of walking and prevent wear and tear on ligaments.

Z-CoiL offers 14 different styles ranging from trainers to knee-high boots.

The shoes are custom-fitted and cost from £100 to £150. As well as relieving pressure on joints, they claim to improve the wearer's posture.

Currently, all stores are in America and the company is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Miss Bonham Carter said earlier this month that she was looking for a pair
because she is 'a big fan of shoes that give you some height with comfort'. Other celebrity wearers include Dustin Hoffman and Matt Damon.

The coil-spring shoes were designed by Alvaro Gallegos, who suffered from injuries due to regular running.

A spokesman for Z-Coil said: 'Much the way a car's steel frame supports its shock absorbers, this firm platform inside the shoe, in combination with the coil in the heel and thick cushioning in the forefoot provides even better overall support for the foot.'

Miss Bonham Carter gave birth to daughter Nell in December last year with partner Tim Burton, 49.

The couple have a four-year-old son, Billy Ray, and live in two adjoining houses in Belsize Park, London.

They met on set when Burton directed Miss Bonham Carter in the 2001 film Planet of the Apes.

She recently signed to be a villain alongside Christian Bale in Terminator Salvation - the fourth film in the franchise.