Peter and Anne Nolan, from Newent, Gloucestershire, came up with the Slidetite hook after Peter had trouble securing a load to the top of his car with a traditional cord and metal hook.

The new adjustable hook is now being sold as far afield as Australia, and there is interest from Germany, the Netherlands and Canada.

John Thompson, from the Government's Passport to Enterprise Scheme, helped the couple make their international connections.

He said:

"The transition from a good idea to an accepted brand that is a commercial success is a major challenge for any business.

"The evolution of Slidetite demonstrates that with a little help, there are very real opportunities for UK ingenuity to become international commercial success."