An invention designed by a Bradford firm to assist severely disabled children has been named in memory of a child who helped to spark the original idea.

Bradford-based Multisensory Environments has developed the Cheungy Box - a hi-tech box incorporating fibre optics and other special effects - in honour of Matthew Cheung.

Matthew, who suffered from cerebral palsy, died of whooping cough 30 months ago and never saw the finished Cheungy Box.

His foster parents, Paul and Lynda Marley, of Wibsey Park Avenue, Bradford, came up with the original idea using a wooden box, tinsel and a mirror ball.

The idea was taken up by Lesley Leonard, a senior occupational therapist in paediatrics based at St Luke's Hospital, Bradford. He got in touch with Multisensory Environments to take the Cheungy Box a stage further.

The pioneering company, based at Bradford Business & Innovation Centre, was awarded a £5,000 grant under the SPINN scheme to produce an electronic Cheungy Box.

The grant scheme is jointly administered by Business Link Bradford & District and Bradford Council, and covers up to half the costs of research and development, prototype building and initial marketing.

Michael Treece, a co-founder of Multisensory Environments, which normally creates purpose-built sensory rooms, said: "The Cheungy Box can be taken on to the ward or moved around, unlike a fully-equipped 'sensory room' where a lot of space and equipment is needed. The technology was developed with the help of a SPINN grant and is the most advanced of its kind in the world."

Paul Marley added: "We made the original Cheungy Box using bits of tinsel, shiny shapes, chimes, a mirror ball and a wooden box. Matthew used to lay in it and really enjoy himself.

"Lesley said she wanted to take the idea further, but we never dreamed that one day it would be the basis for a new invention."

Lynda added: "It's lovely that it has been named after Matthew. It helps to keep his memory alive."

Lesley Leonard said: "We are thrilled with our Cheungy Boxes at the hospital. They give us so much scope to relax and stimulate children with multiple disabilities and the great thing is they are mobile and we can position one at the side of a child's bed."

Councillor Dave Green, chairman of Bradford Council's regeneration committee, said the SPINN grants provided an excellent chance for companies to take advantage of a scheme which shouldered some of the costs of innovation.

"Companies in Bradford have a great deal of expertise and talent and we want to exploit that to the full. The Cheungy Box is a superb example of how great ideas can be turned into new products which have enormous potential."

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