A SWEDISH massage and medical gymnastics practice at Beamish Museum was the unlikely venue for the launch of this year's Spirit of Innovation Awards.

Chairman of the awards, Frank Nicholson, and David Howell, director of operations at the North East of England Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) in Sunderland, launched the awards at the practice of Mr and Mrs W Heylings in the town attraction at the museum.

They were joined by previous winners, sponsors and entrants for this year's awards.

They included last year's winner, Julian Peck, from Innoverce Products, Newcastle, who has developed a bicycle pump with a pull cord action.

Mr Nicholson said: "We like to hold our launches in innovative places, and it shows just how far we have come that we can launch this year's awards in a Swedish massage and medical gymnastics practice.

He said: "By finding different ways of thinking, many businesses can prosper and I am looking forward to seeing what innovative ideas the people of the region bring forward in the coming months.

"Innovation is not just about good ideas, it is about developing these ideas into a commercial success to create more jobs, win new orders and help firms become more efficient."

The awards have four categories: students of all ages; individuals over 18; companies with fewer than 20 employees and companies with more than 20 employees.

The winner of each category will receive help to develop their innovation and £1,000 cash. The overalll winner will receive another £5,000.

The awards are sponsored by development agency One NorthEast, Sunderland and Newcastle Universities, The BIC and Robert Muckle solicitors.

"Throughout my career I have been involved in developing new ideas and solving new problems. By finding different ways of thinking, many businesses can prosper and I am looking forward to seeing what innovative ideas the people of the region bring forward in the coming months."

He was joined by representatives from Peratech, of Darlington, which has developed a polymer for use in electrical controls, switches, keyboards and pressure sensors.

Other past winners included David Dunn, from Stockton, who developed self assembly furniture for children, and Printable Field Emitters from Hartlepool, which developed hang-on-the wall display technology.