JUDGES at this year's Spirit of Innovation Awards have whittled down an initial 80 entries to the 15 finalists.

The 15, in four categories, will now have an anxious wait until June 19, when the winners in each category will be announced at a ceremony at Hardwick Hall, in Sedgefield, County Durham.

Each will receive £1,000 in cash plus help from the organisers and sponsors of the awards to develop their ideas.

An overall winner will receive an extra £5,000.

Ideas in the running for the awards include novelty light switch surrounds, surgical instruments, sheep feeders, sensor activated furniture and amphibious vehicles.

The 15 finalists are:

* Students - Blue Moo, Staindrop Comprehensive; Huw Miller, Yarm; Angus Merriam, Sowerby, Thirsk and Philip Cowan, Middleton St George.

* Individuals - Thomas Robson, Houghton-le-Spring; Paul Veitch, Sunderland and Bob Campbell, Hemlington, Middlesbrough.

* Small companies - Covelink Marine, Staindrop; Millenniumpore Ltd, Sunderland; Virulite Ltd, Peterlee and Walltransform, Middlesbrough.

* Large companies - Jackel International, Cramlington; Waterstons, Belmont, Durham; Elementis Chromium, Eaglescliffe and the Shark Group, Morpeth.

Frank Nicholson, chairman of the judging panel, said the standard of entries had been outstanding.