A process worker, who doubles up as an inventor, is hoping his alternative paint roller will become a commercial success.

Inventor John Morris shows off his disposable paint roller. Picture: Mike Tipping

John Morris, who has worked at a sweet factory in York for eight years, has designed a disposable roller to make life easier for the do-it-yourself brigade.

"The prototype is made out of latex," said Mr Morris, a keen decorator. "But the final product will be constructed of elasticated plastic. You then won't have to spend ages washing it at the kitchen sink - just throw it away."

A lateral thinker, Mr Morris was decorating his home, when he thought of a less-laborious way of cleaning the paint roller.

"Under normal circumstances, it's a waste of time trying to change to another colour using the same roller, because the original colour cannot be entirely eliminated from a lambs wool or foam roller." He is currently in talks with a plastics manufacturer at Stamford Bridge to fund and produce a prototype. "The do-it-yourself market is so big," he said.

Mr Morris, 40, who originally trained as an engineer, said: "I've got loads of other ideas, such as a child's safety socket. Basically, this has a key in the middle which operates three rotating discs cutting off all the pin points. Aside from the safety factor, parents can now control how much time their children play on computers or playstations."

A Rotherham company is currently producing the prototype. "I just like to design a product people can use - that's more important than just seeing it on the shelf," said Mr Morris, who once designed a plastic floss for cleaning between teeth, but was beaten to the shelves by a rival.

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