A NORTH-East inventor, featured on last night's Tomorrow's World programme on BBC1, has won an award.

David Lussey, managing director of Peratech, in Darlington, won the Tomorrow's World industry award for inventing a material which is benefiting the space industry.

The company has been helping the North American Space Agency (Nasa) to help create a crew of space-travelling robots.

The quantum tunnelling composites (QTCs) are a new brand of materials which could replace the simple electrical switch, on light switches, hairdryers or drills.

In the future, people could switch on the lights in their living room at any brightness they choose, depending on how much pressure they apply to the material.

The QTCs, which are pressure and touch-sensitive, are used to give the robots sensations like human hands.

The company has also worked with a technical textile firm to develop touch-sensitive clothing.

The product could revolutionise the design of many products, including mobile phones, computers, toys and cars.

QTCs are set to become involved in millions of products during the next five to ten years.

Mr Lussey discovered the product in 1995. He formed Peratech, now a seven-strong team, to continue developing QTCs.

The company has also won the Saatchi and Saatchi Worldwide Innovation Award, the Design Council Award and the Spirit of Innovation Award.