The UK is among the world's leading nations for eco-friendly inventions, it has been revealed today.

The news comes as the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) launches a competition to encourage Britain's youngest inventors to think green when coming up with new ideas.

Research by the UK-IPO, shows that Britain is in the top six for the number of energy saving inventions. The table is headed by Japan followed by China, America, Germany and Korea.

The UK-IPO's Cracking Ideas 2008 is launched today at the Education Show being held at Birmingham's NEC.

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Cracking Ideas offers teachers resources and activities for the classroom through a website www.crackingideas.com

The resources link to a nationwide competition to find the inventors of tomorrow. Children aged 9-11 will be encouraged to come up with a new invention - with the emphasis on something eco friendly.

Minister for Intellectual Property Baroness Delyth Morgan said it was an important initiative to get children thinking about innovation at an early age.

"Cracking Ideas is fantastic for encouraging primary school aged children to innovate. It's great that this year we are getting children to think about green innovations.

"The UK is proud of its innovating tradition and our work on energy saving devices. Cracking Ideas keeps us at the forefront of this vital field," she said.

(CD)