Scottish inventor is hot stuff

Researchers at Paisley University have helped a local inventor develop a device aimed at combating chip pan fires, writes Olga Wojtas.

Jim McConkey's revolutionary fire-proof chip pan was this week voted top in the BBC1 television programme Best Inventions, which showcases ideas from across the United Kingdom.

Paisley's Innovation and Research Office offers support and advice for commercialisation. Staff in engineering services and at the Centre for Particle Characterisation and Analysis helped create the chip pan.

The flashpoint of cooking oil is about 340F and the flame is about 500F. A plastic strip fastened to the pan's metal lid melts at about 350-400F, closing the lid tight if a fire breaks out.

In 2000, chip-pan fires caused 50 deaths in the UK.

Mr McConkey said: "I hope, with the help of the University of Paisley, to bring the chip pan to the marketplace."

Lorraine Dymond of the Innovation and Research Office said the university was keen to lend its support for continuing research and development.