Merseyside Innovation Awards - 2004

Una Collins, Grandmother of six has been named as the second February finalist in the Merseyside Innovation Awards.

Una has invented the 'Line Hanger' which, she claims, will revolutionise the way clothes are hung outdoors for thousands of householders all over the UK.

The device, which has a registered design, is a clever alternative to the conventional peg, says Una.

"Clothes are first placed onto a hanger which hooks securely into a circular aperture on the device so they remain securely on the line whatever the weather. This means that the risk of peg marks is eliminated and also that ironing time is reduced because the clothes can keep their shape when drying.

"I have been washing my family's clothes for 40 years and decided that there must be a way to improve the way clothes are hung outdoors."

A delighted Una was presented with her certificate by a member of the judging panel, Steve Mulvaney of GME.

He said: "Una deserves to have been short listed. She has used her imagination to redesign a simple product which could make a real difference to a great many people."