MILLIONS of bachelors around the world could soon be thanking a 22-year-old from the region for a new household appliance which goes on show at the Ideal Home Show in the spring.

Nicola Simpson's invention heats food just as quickly as a microwave.

However, because the Can Cook does it while it is still in its packaging, it could make pots and saucepans redundant - dramatically reducing the amount of washing up.

It also cuts the amount of energy used, thus reducing costs.

"It was designed with single people in mind, as it allows you to cook food in the container it comes in - it is a quick, clean and easy cooking method," said Nicola, of Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

The Can Cook is an entry in the national Concept Products competition at the Ideal Home Show, which opens at Earls Court, London, on March 7.

Visitors vote for their favourite invention and the person with the most votes when the show closes on April 1 will collect the £3,000 prize.

Nicola, who attended Graham School before completing her A-levels at Scarborough Sixth Form College, graduated recently from Brunel University, where she studied product design.

Her concepts have already gone on show in the national Design and Technology Show, where she won a Young Engineers Award for Britain (Yorkshire) in 1997.