A Cornish inventor has launched a crowdfunding campaign on (www.kickstarter.com) to bring a new humane pest control product to the automotive market.

Toby Bateson, an emergency doctor at Royal Cornwall Hospital — and founder of Hammer Technologies Ltd — has designed RatMat, which is said to be the world’s first humane electrified rodent-repellent flooring. Using similar principles to an electric fence, the RatMat is made up of inter-lockable floor tiles with a conductive steel surface.

Dr Bateson is now seeking £65,000 through the Kickstarter platform to manufacture the first batch of RatMat tiles. He said: “I have spent six years researching and developing the RatMat as a cost-effective and long-term solution for the owners of classic and valuable cars to prevent damage caused by rats and mice.

“I have a prototype and evidence that it works, but now I need the initial funds to help make this humane pest control product a reality.”

Dr Bateson achieved a Guinness World Record in 2016 for the world’s smallest vacuum cleaner, just 5.7cm long, and he successfully brought his Zen Plugs moulded ear-plug kit to the market in 2009.