The Practikal® Carrier Bag Handle - awarded Millennium Products status by the Design Council for its innovative design - stops carrier bags from digging painfully into shoppers’ hands.

The device was invented by Liverpudlian Paul Stuart when he was fifteen to help his arthritic Grandmother manage with her shopping. Paul’s teenage prototype was fashioned from an old broom-handle in his Grandmother’s back garden and worked so well that he realised his invention could become a commercial success. He made sure he patented the idea in 1988 but it wasn’t until 1997 that he launched his company, Practikal Limited.

The bag handle is particularly useful for arthritis sufferers and the elderly but its moulded finger grips mean that carrier bags can be made more comfortable for everyone. The handle retails at £1.49 for a pack of two and is available at Somerfield, Safeway, Co-op, John Lewis stores, Budgens and Gateway.

The handle helps disabled people in more ways than one since the company employs disabled people to work on the product’s packaging.

Design Council Chief Executive Andrew Summers said today, ‘I am delighted that this Millennium Product has now achieved nationwide distribution. It is an excellent example of inclusive design and will make a real difference to consumers - particularly the elderly and disabled.

The handle is creative and innovative, solves a key problem and has clear user benefits - exactly what Millennium Products are all about.’