AN award-winning invention that promises to keep the decorating dust-free has been picked up by DIY retailer B&Q.

Reuzip Partnership, from Middlesbrough, has won a contract with B&Q to sell its reusable, zipped plastic cover in the retailer's UK stores from next year.

The zipped cover can be attached to the inside of door frames using masking tape and provides a fully-sealed covering, keeping dust out during interior decorating. Heather Kitching, inventor of the zip, which has a range of other applications in the packaging industry, said: "It is a long and difficult process from coming up with the idea to turning it into a reality, so the recognition from a major retailer is wonderful."

She said the company was in discussions about selling the product in the US. The design won Reuzip first prize at the Spirit of Innovation Awards, held in Newcastle.