THEY may be the bane of motorists, but someone has to lay down those dreaded traffic cones.

Now an inventor from Hampshire has come up with a way of making that time-consuming, muscle-aching and potentially dangerous task somewhat easier and safer.

Brian Flynn, with the backing of his brother John, has seen an inspired drawing on the back of a napkin four years ago come to life.

His brainwave is the revolutionary £70,000 Autocone System, which automatically lays and collects road cones.

It has already attracted the attention of one of Europe's leading road construction companies, which has invested in the project.

Autocone sets out road cones at pre-determined distances so that the physical load on the workers, who can each shift up to 20 tons, is eliminated.

Brian's idea has also come up trumps in this year's British Invention Show.

He scooped the Inventor of the Year title in London after judges gave Autocone a resounding thumbs up.

Brian, the managing director of Greentec Industries, said: "It represents the culmination of over four years' hard work.

"It would not have been possible without the support of my brother John, who believed in this when it was just a drawing on a napkin.

"John's engineering skills were invaluable and helped turn the visions of a madman into reality. I just want to thank my wife, family and friends for sticking with me."

Autcone was first conceived as Brian drove around England as a sales representative. His main concern was for the men who put their lives on the line to lay out cones in heavy traffic.

The first production units, which came about following £300,000 of government grants and a loan, are now being assembled at a new industrial unit at Alton, where Brian lives.