LEDBURY'S Tony Botsman, who invented an inflatable conveyor belt to help with fruit-picking, has been given a £10,000 grant to develop the project.
Mr Botsman was one of 55 Midlands companies to receive European funding from Malvern-based Regional Technology Exchange Services.
The invention, known as the Aeropick, catches fruit when it is shaken off a tree and then transports it to be packaged.
The money will help him to protect the intellectual property rights to the Aeropick and to obtain a British patent. He will launch the system commercially at the end of the month.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article