A MAIDSTONE company has won a Department of Trade and Industry grant to develop a home fire prevention device.

Nigel Griffiths, Minister for Small Businesses, announced that Polygons Ltd have been given DTI backing to develop TripsSafe, a device that detects smoke in the same way as a smoke detector, but also acts in response by cutting off the electricity to the device which is causing the smoke.

Mark Pearson, director of Polygons Ltd, said: "We are delighted that the DTI has awarded us this grant, which will allow us to take our exciting technology forward. The grant means we can not only try to achieve this but also play a part in saving lives."

Nigel Griffiths said: "This is great news for Polygons Ltd and Maidstone in Kent. TripsSafe is a tremendous product and is typical of the hi-tech innovation for which the DTI is delighted to provide grant support.”

Full production of TripsSafe is expected to start in October.