A MOTHER of four children has tackled the age-old problem of disappearing dummies with a unique commercial idea.

Rukshanda Ibrahim, aged 30, from Deane, has launched a business called personalisemydummy.com after she became worried about her own children losing their dummies while in daycare.

"Parents and daycare staff know the problem - children's dummies disappear or end up in another child's mouth, spreading germs and bacteria," she said.

"I began searching for personalised dummies but couldn't find any.

"So I decided to start my own business. It's taken a year to find a good quality supplier in Germany who can meet all standards and create the sort of dummies I want."

As well as offering individual children's names on dummies through her home-based business, Rukshanda has created a range of festive slogans just in time for the Christmas market and others with comic phrases such as "Do I Look Bothered?" and "Feed Me!"

"They make great gifts," she said.

Although her own children - now aged seven, six, five and three - are beyond the dummy stage, Mrs Ibrahim still has a good understanding of the difficulties with dummies.

"I'm really hoping my dummies will help solve this problem in a fun way," she added.

The dummies normally cost £4.99 or £5.99 but are initially being sold at £1 less than usual.