WILTSHIRE inventor James Dyson has given up on his revolutionary washing machine.

The device, called the Contrarotator, sells for £1,000 has two counter-rotating drums designed to mimic the action of hand-washing.

But now the company is giving up production of the machine, because the product is making a loss.

A spokesman said the company was not exiting the laundry sector and would continue to research a product that could be sold internationally.

The Dyson machine is made in Malaysia, along with the vacuum cleaners, after the company took the controversial decision to move its manufacturing from Malmesbury, near Swindon.

The company would not say how much of a loss the company is making on the washing machine but it did say that there would be provision for parts and service for those who had already brought it.

Last month Dyson launched its latest vacuum cleaner, called the Ball. The company claims it works differently from other upright cleaners because of the way it can be steered.