Bracknell

A Bracknell dad who designed an environmentally friendly disposable rucksack has won a gold medal at the British Invention Show.

Simon Mitchinson, of Viking, Great Hollands, got inspiration for the bags after carrying three empty rucksacks around on a family day out in the summer of 2003.

His invention is made out of paper that is recycled, recyclable and biodegradable but strong enough to carry 2kg.

Judges at the Alexandra Palace show awarded the medal because of the rucksacks' originality, practicality and commercial potential.

The 34-year-old set up the The Paper Rucksack Company in June 2004 and juggles running it with being a full-time carer for his disabled five-year-old son Xander and looking after his other son Kit, three. Wife Bracknell Kathryn is a teacher at Winkfield St Mary's and Bracknell's St Joseph's RC School.

Simon said: "The essential requirements in my mind were that the bag had to be strong and comfortable to wear, in order to be useable, but also be environmentally friendly and very cheap, in order to be disposable.

"I think that families and children will be the main users, going on school trips and on days out to theme parks, the beach and other tourist attractions."

The rucksack is Simon's first invention and he spent a long time perfecting it after the patent was granted in January 2004. This involved making a prototype and testing the strengths of different glues.

He said: "Everything was hard to begin with. Every step was as hard as the last one."

The products are manufactured in India and China but Simon employs members of Crowthornebased charity First Steps Trust to put straps on the bags.

The trust helps people with mental health needs to gain confidence to get back into work.

Nov 1 2005 ~ By Richard Crowe ~ ic Berkshire