A BUSINESSMAN who designed an inventive amphibious "tourist bus" has scooped an award.

Staindrop-based David Royle, who also runs a vintage car restoration business, set up Covelink Marine to develop his invention, which he has been working on for the past 15 years.

The Roylecraft is the first land and water-based vehicle in the world to incorporate the technology of having retractable wheels, and the ability to travel at motorway speeds.

Mr Royle was honoured by the Teesdale Enterprise Fund last week, receiving an award as the area's most innovative business.

The award was presented for developing a unique product or service and for overcoming many barriers in achieving his aims.

Mr Royle was presented with the award at a dinner hosted by the Enterprise Fund.

Other businesses to receive awards included Anthony Nixon Furniture, of Barnard Castle, Peter Coverdale of P&S Coverdale Masonry contractors, which received a heritage award, and Richard Cooke, of Comtek.

Mr Royle has taken on 15 extra staff and hopes to take on more from the local skilled workforce, following redundancies at the Lafarge cement works, Black and Decker, and Glaxo -Smithkline.

He secured a contract last year for four Roylecraft water buses, which seat up to 32 people and can travel at speeds of up to 70mph on land and 40mph on water. Testing has taken place on a privately owned lake near Staindrop and one bus has been launched in a trial on the River Tees.

He believes the smaller craft can be used for flood rescue, the RNLI, oceanography and island-hopping. The vehicles cost between £200,000 and £400,000, depending on size and specifications, and range from 22ft to 38ft.