AWARD-WINNING e-commerce venture UK Juicers of Acaster Malbis has designed its own lifesaving juice press.

Directors Nick Ledger and his uncle, Paul Hellawell, were today preparing to send their Hercules Hydraulic Press to a UK support group of the US- based Gerson Institute for Cancer Therapy for approval.

The launch of the Hercules follows hot on the heels of the 2003 Evening Press Business of the Year Awards in which UK Juicers scooped two major titles - New Business of the Year and e-Commerce Business of the Year.

The firm was already regarded as a winner by the likes of retired triple jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards, who bought his first juicer there for his wheatgrass tonic and superfood.

The Hercules prototype, designed with the help of Greg Allison, managing director of Minster Engineering on the Ebor Industrial Estate, York, is the second stage of a two-part "juice therapy" for cancer recommended by the institute.

Stage one is use of a "masticating" juicer such as a Champion juicer to shred hard produce like apples and carrots. Stage two is use of a press to thoroughly squeeze any vital remaining nutrients from the pulp.

The taste of the pressed juice is said to be noticeably more intense from that of a conventional juicer and the remaining pulp, left after four tonnes of Hercules pressure has done its work, is so dry it resembles cardboard.

Nick said: "We've often thought there wasn't a particularly effective juice press available in the UK and it was always our intention to develop one.

"As our company became established we've been able to do this and have formed a fantastic working relationship with Minster Engineering. We knew exactly how we wanted the press to work and Minster has been able to make it a reality."

The Hercules, which sells at £279, is 23 kilos of stainless steel and its use involves pumping a jack handle. "It's certainly not going to win any Kitchen Style awards, but that's not why we've developed it, and it's certainly not the reason why people will buy it. It's been designed with function as the absolute priority."

The web-based retailer of quality juice extractors was started after Nick was cured of all symptoms of his ulcerative colitis when he changed his diet to juiced fruit and vegetables.

Updated: 13:52 Wednesday, December 10, 2003