STICKY business could create hundreds of jobs in the region.

Two entrepreneurs, who have designed the SpanApplicator - a glue gun which they predict will revolutionise DIY - were originally looking abroad because they could not find suitable manufacturers in the UK.

Their invention is a nozzle that can spread tile adhesive from a tubular container.

But Alan Spencer and Shaun Wainford have now received Tees Valley Regeneration backing, allowing them to stay on Teesside.

Established names in the industry were unwilling to help because the invention threatened their sales.

Investors are now discussing a multi-million pound deal, and a manufacturer has been found in Leeds.

Mr Spencer said: "We are about to take off in a big way and we are about to do it in Teesside.

"We are talking about creating hundreds of jobs in storage, sales, distribution."

After winning a British Institute of Science design award, the applicator is now in production at a factory in Pickering in North Yorkshire.

Mr Wainford said: "I have contacts in the Far East and at one stage it seemed that is where we have had to go."