An invention first seen on TV's Dragon's Den is set to become a success with worn-out parents.

Inventor Graham Whitby has sold more than 1,000 of his baby Dream Machines to desperate parents all over the globe.

On the TV show he had to pitch his idea to try to secure investment finance from entrepreneurs.

But he decided to go it alone and now his Gomersal-based firm Natural Sleep Innovation Ltd is selling the device to South Africa and Israel, among others.

Mr Whitby said: "It was a terrifying but good experience.

"The entrepreneurs were very keen but they wanted too much, they wanted 25 per cent of the company."

The Dream Machine, which is selling for just under £80, has been designed to bring hope to mums and dads who endlessly pace up and down, take their babies out for a drive in the car, or even vacuum the floor in an effort to soothe them to sleep.

The machine is a tray which lies on the floor, on which a pushchair, pram or buggy's back wheels rest. The wheels are gently rocked in a non-stop cycling motion for 15 minutes at a time, mimicking the sensation of being in the womb, or being rocked in a parent's arms.

The machine has two rocking speeds, and is suitable for children from birth to three years old.

Mr Whitby said: "The Baby Dream Machine isn't a replacement for a parent, it just helps them make best use of their time to enjoy the waking hours spent with their baby.

"If they had been around when my children were babies I would have had five - one for every room of the house."

The Baby Dream Machines are winging their way to parents in Israel, South Africa, America, the Netherlands, France and hopefully soon to New Zealand and Australia.

Next on the production line will be a Dream Machine rocking cot.

The cot is the next idea to be launched later this year, but for now the Dream Machine is flying off the shelves.

"We've had no returns and only good feedback, which we think says it all," said Mr Whitby.

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

A MUM'S VERDICT

Oxenhope mother-of-two Lisa Smith, 29, put the dream machine to the test.

She said: "Declan's only ten weeks and already sleeps through the night but doesn't nap much during the day, which can be a bit awkward.

"I've either got to rock him or take him out in the car. The Dream Machine would certainly save on petrol and give me more time to spend with Naomi, who's just three.

"The machine is great. The first time I tried it he was only in it for five minutes and he nodded off."