A GAIRLOCH-based start-up has secured £115,000 of funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help develop its new image enhancing technology.

Imhanz has been set up by Ed Duncan and Andy Kinsey to target the image processing markets in industries such as fish farming, medicine and oil and gas.

They are joined in the new venture by fellow technologist Ross Maxwell and Angus Robinson, a sales and marketing specialist. The four directors are equal shareholders in the business.

Imhanz will focus on developing technology to enhance and process digital images, both to improve the quality of those images and to broaden the scope of the system's application.

The funding from HIE will be used fund research and development.

Mr Duncan, who once developed cameras for mobile phone companies, said: "It's great that we have the support from HIE to do this work right here in the Highlands. Our company is addressing a rapidly-growing global market for imaging products and we are grateful for this support.

"This is an important step which will take image capture and analysis to the next level."

Mr Duncan and Mr Kinsey established design services and technology consultancy Pixic in 2008.