CHILDREN who are scared of the dark will be able to put their fears to rest thanks to an invention.

Paul Veitch, Richard Imms and Michael McGuigan, from Stanley, County Durham, have designed bedroom furniture to give children comfort and safety in the dark.

The men work at Union Snack, in Stanley, and are hoping their idea will be a winner in this year's Spirit of Innovation Awards.

They have designed a bedside cabinet with an inbuilt night light, triggered when a child's foot touches the floor.

The light shines through a perspex sheet in the cabinet door, which also has a space for a picture slide of the child's choice.

Mr Veitch, who has two children, said: "My kids were scared of the dark when they were young and this idea would definitely have helped them feel safer at night."

After two years of market research and building prototypes, the trio have found no direct competition for their idea and have protected it with a patent.

Mr Veitch said: "With the help of the Business and Innovation Centre (BIC)in Sunderland, we have put together a business plan and we're hoping to find a manufacturer to license our idea.

"The Spirit of Innovation Awards is our first step in testing the market. We know there's a lot of scope for the invention, and we hope everyone agrees with us."

The closing date for entries to this year's Spirit of Innovation Awards is April 30, with finalists announced in June.

There are four categories - individual, student, small company and large company. The winner of each category will win £1,000 and support to develop their ideas. The overall winner will receive an additional £5,000. For more information about the awards, contact the BIC on 0191-516 6045.