A GIZMO for feeding pets invented by a Cheddar engineer has been voted best new product of the year at a prestigious show. Ray Dunham's DinnerUP won the award at a NAIDEX show at Birmingham NEC last week, an exhibition which showcases aids to assist peop

A GIZMO for feeding pets invented by a Cheddar engineer has been voted best new product of the year at a prestigious show. Ray Dunham's DinnerUP won the award at a NAIDEX show at Birmingham NEC last week, an exhibition which showcases aids to assist people with disabilities.The 57-year-old, who has been disabled from birth through cerebral palsy, said: "I love my cat Sylvester, but I do have difficulties looking after him. I cannot bend down to put his food on the floor and obviously it is unhygienic to encourage him onto the kitchen work surface."DinnerUP has been about six years in the making and to win the award is such an achievement. At the NEC exhibition we had buyers saying it was a wonder something hadn't been invented before as it was such a useful and much needed device. "We started production almost a year ago and sales have been going really well on the internet but our official launch was at the show last week."DinnerUP is a tray which can be raised and lowered from floor level to a height reachable by anyone. There is a winding mechanism on the side that can fit against kitchen units or walls. The tray can carry up to 3kg and can be used to feed cats and dogs.Ray said: "A lot of people with disabilities and elderly members of the community have pets as a companion. DinnerUP means they can look after them, even when bending down becomes difficult or impossible."The award was voted for by visitors to the show, including people with disabilities and professionals in healthcare such as nurses and physiotherapists. Not only did DinnerUP win best new product of the year, it also came second as best in the show. For more information about DinnerUP visit www.dinnerup.co.uk or call 0845 200 8509.