Yorkshire family make waves with ingenious water saving invention

THE RICHARDSONS HAVE TURNED DOWN TWO OFFERS FROM MAJOR COMPANIES

- By COREENA FORD

A FARMING couple in Yorkshire have won a raft of awards after inventing an ingenious water-saving device.

Belle and Jason Richardson, who own and run a farm in Pocklington, have created SealStop.

After five years in the making, the family has finally launched with great success and have turned down offers from two major companies to buy SealStop, insisting their invention is not motivated by profit.

The device acts as a portable ballcock, allowing you to keep a tap or hose running and walk away, without the risk of overfilling your container.

It has already won the Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday award, the UK Business awards startup innovation customer satisfaction award, and the One to Watch University of York Enterprise Award, sponsored by Uber.

Co-founder Belle says the invention's sale comes at a perfect time, now that the region is subject to a hosepipe ban. Belle, 34, said: "Our invention was born of necessity and, like most of the best inventions, it's very simple.