A Fife inventor is set to launch a dissolvable wipe designed to help tackle coronavirus.

McCormack Innovation has announced that it is within weeks of launching a soluble wipe to help battle coronavirus contamination.

The firm is working with the support of Dr Michail Kalloudis, director of Impact Solutions laboratory, Grangemouth, said Brian McCormack, founder and managing director of McCormack Innovation.

Scientific testing has been positive and final certification trials are to be carried out by Melbec labs with the certified product being ready for market "within a matter of weeks".

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Mr McCormack said: “We looked at developing a wipe that was effective against the virus that could be flushed away down the sink or toilet.

"After extensive trials we managed to overcome the issues of using highly complex chemicals with sensitive material that enables the structure to hold and do its job of killing the virus then dissolve in water in a matter of minutes.

"The main areas of use for this wipe would be in any ICU (Intensive Care Unit) where Covid 19 is known to be present. At the moment wipes are bagged and taken out of the unit to be disposed of.

"This presents a high risk of cross infection. Our wipes would never leave the unit. They would simply be flushed away. This would immediately break the chain of cross infection from this monster virus.”

The company has also announced the appointment of Charlie Baynes-Reid as Special Advisor & North American representative based in New York city.

Technology firm Sage has said it saw around half the level of new customers it expected in April as coronavirus hit small firms.

The group - which provides software to small businesses in the UK and worldwide - said it was now seeing the "broader effects of the sharp economic downturn caused by the pandemic, with some customers deferring purchase decisions, leading to a slowdown in new customer acquisition".

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Results for the half year to March 31 showed underlying pre-tax profits remained flat at £205 million on revenues up 5.7%.

It reiterated its warning that revenue growth for the full year will not meet previous expectations for 8% to 9%.

Vodka No.1 maker Stock Spirits cheered a 25.6% jump in first-half underlying earnings to €44.2 million (£39.1 million) on revenues up 15% as people stocked up on alcohol ahead of tax increases in its two key markets, Poland and the Czech Republic, earlier in the year.

The group, which makes a selection of spirit drinks, said the coronavirus pandemic has so far had a "minimal" impact on its performance.