INVENTOR Tom Lawton hopes the world will wake up to his ingenious new alarm clock.

Mr Lawton, 26, a former pupil of Chippenham's Sheldon School, launched his ear-friendly Wakeyoo in October 2000 to coincide with the clocks going back.

Wakeyoo is different to other alarm clocks because it doesn't have an annoying buzz or ringing noise, instead it has a built-in microphone to record whatever noise someone wants to wake up to.

"I wanted to change the relationship we have with our alarm clock, to make them fun, individual, and above all, a friend," said Mr Lawton, of Bathford.

Mr Lawton, who studied product design at university, came up with the idea during a year out in Cape Town.

"I was really chilled out, having a great time in this wonderful place, and the only thing that was annoying me was my alarm clock," he said.

Three years on from the initial idea, Wakeyoo is being manufactured in China.

The Wakeyoo packaging features photos of children from Yatton Keynell School and the clock has been nominated for the Design Week Awards.

Wakeyoo is available from selected branches of WH Smith, Our Price and Comet, priced £14.99. Look out for your chance to win a Wakeyoo in a Gazette competition before Christmas.