WACKY and wonderful inventions were on display at an exhibition designed to help their creators drum up support for their ideas.

Hopeful entrepreneurs swapped tips on drawing up plans, turning dreams into reality and finding all important funding for their brainwaves at the North West Inventors' Expo.

The event, at Blackburn Technology Management Centre, Challenge Way, Whitebirk, is an annual networking opportunity for inventors to improve their designs and get inspiration from others.

Creative partners Bill Austin, 85, and Ian Davies, 44, were demonstrating the use of their Billian Button Aid, which can help elderly and disabled people get dressed more quickly.

Former radio engineer Bill, from Shadsworth, said: "I have arthritis and it can take me a long time to do up my shirts and cardigans. This tool helps you hook the button through the button hole without any fiddling.

"I have always been a bit of an inventor but it really started when my late wife Betty was ill and couldn't get up the stairs. I designed a lift for her and it is about to be taken up by hospitals."

Ian, of St James Road, Blackburn, has had one of his other inventions snapped up by Lancashire fire brigade.

The Plugster is a handle that allows people to easily remove plugs from sockets.

He said: "The fire brigade have given around 40,000 of them away to the elderly so that they are less likely to have accidents. We just like to invent things that make people's lives easier."

Derek Roberts, 60, of Moor Close, Darwen, got the idea for his Bin Caddy from his sister, who is a cleaner at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

He said: "She has to empty the theatre bin 30 times a day and if a trip to the storeroom for a new bag takes just two minutes then that is an hour of her day gone.

"The Bin Caddy is a cylindrical cardboard unit that holds 30 bags and is placed in the bottom of the bin.

"When a bag is full you simply remove it and pull up the next bag.

"It is biodegradable, as are the bags and they can be coated in biochemicals that help fight MRSA."

Ex-tree feller Ray Britner, 53, turned to inventing after he lost an eye in a chain saw accident.

His company Doris Systems Global Ltd, of Clayton Street, Nelson, has come up with an improved design for blasting cleaning equipment.

"Traditional systems use 400 cubic feet of air, whereas mine uses just 125 and is about £2,000 cheaper," he said.

"The National Grid are about to start using my equipment in a series of field trials so I am really pleased."

Basil Philipsz, chair of Ideas North West, who organised the event, said: "It is helpful to have your designs reviewed by your peers because they will give a truthful opinion - even if they think your idea is a bit barmy."