NEW Age Kurling was invented just four years ago and is now played in 32 countries. Reporter Jenny Round went to meet the inventor of the game who has just won a prestigious business award.

WHO would have thought that pushing a plastic mould on ball bearings along the floor would become a popular pastime?

Four years ago it was beyond the wildest dreams of John Bennett, a builder, who was asked to think up a sport that his disabled son, Steve, could play.

Sadly Steve is not around to see his dad win Entrepreneur of the Year and witness the joy that the sport brings to able-bodied and disabled people all over the world.

John, of Lower Sands, Dymchurch, said: "Our son became ill when he was just 25 and lost the use of his right side. After a few years of feeling sorry for himself he joined a disabled club. He met people there that like him wanted a laugh and some fun but they found the sports boring so he asked me to come up with something that everybody could play."

John was watching the Curling World Championships on television when he came up with the idea of using a discus with a handle and bearings so it could slide along the ground. He invented pushers and ramps to allow people of all abilities to launch the kurling stones and vinyl mats as targets.

What started as a sport for disabled people was enjoyed by everyone from toddlers to pensioners. As its popularity grew variations of the game were created, including Kurling Kroquet and Kurling Golf.

John's business, called What's the Big Idea, has taken him all round the world. He has brought New Age Kurling to Germany, France, Holland, Singapore, Finland and Las Vegas to name just a few and has been asked to help to introduce the sport to 142 further countries. He has just signed an agreement that will see the game played in 174 countries in the next five years.

The inaugural World Championships will be held in Great Yarmouth next year but John's ultimate aim is to see it played in the 2012 Paralympics.

Having built his own house in Dymchurch and two others on the road, John gave up his profession when the business took off. He has since had to rethink any plans he had to take it easy and enjoy an early retirement.

He said: "I work every day and weekends but I can't complain because I love what I do. I bought a set of golf clubs but never have the chance to use them.

I get to meet people from all round the world and still have big plans for the business."

Plans are in place to begin clubs in New Romney, Folkestone and five in Ashford and next year John wants to franchise the business and employ staff to help him.

The 60-year-old has worked hard to get where he is and with the help of Disability Sport England and local authorities wants to encourage more people to take up the sport. He said the benefits speak for themselves.

"We do a lot of rehabilitation work with people in hospitals because when you play it you don't realise that you are exercising and using muscles you have never used before. You don't have to have any physical fitness to play."

John was surprised to hear he had been named the Chamber of Commerce's regional Entrepreneur of the Year. He has been short-listed for the national final with a chance of winning £25,000.

He said: "I have been told that I am the only person still living to have invented a sport. I have had to buy a suit since I started winning awards because I only have my tracksuits.

"It is a novel sport that everybody can get something out of and since the business started I have never looked back. For the first time disabled people can play against or with able-bodied people on an equal level.

"Sadly Steve died just before it all took off but we are doing it in his memory."

* Visit the website at www.kurling.co.uk for more information.