A REMOTE-control gas fire may seem the ultimate in laziness but one small business is hoping to increase production by 50 per cent this year.

Ivan Noon, who has more than 20 years' experience in the industry, started manufacturing the remote-control fires four years ago from his base in Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Although an unusual invention, Mr Noon said the fires are perfect for people with mobility problems.

His business is called Cupola, meaning small furnace, and the British Gas-approved fires are now hot property in specialist gas shops throughout the UK.

He said: "They're different to other gas fires because you can treat them like real open fires and poke them to alter the flame.

"You can also change the look of them, with logs on at Christmas, pebbles during the summer or coals in the winter."

Mr Noon has started focusing on sales and marketing because he forecasts huge potential for the business.

He said: "We're hoping to increase production by 50 per cent this year."

The company is also taking advantage of Business Link's help in identifying funding opportunities to have an adapted Calor-gas powered version of the fire approved by British Gas. Mr Noon hopes it will attract custom from areas where mains gas is not available.