Car loo trippers plan US journey

The Indipod's fan is designed to drown out embarrassing noises

The inventors of an in-car toilet who travelled from Scotland to Italy without getting out of their car are hoping to repeat the feat in the US.

Dr James Shippen and Barbara May, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, drove to the tip of southern Italy in April to demonstrate their creation the Indipod.

It is intended to help people with bowel-related conditions such as Crohn's disease and colitis.

Their latest plan is to travel from America's east to west coast.

10-day trip

Dr Shippen said the plans for the 3,500-mile trip had yet to be finalised.

He said: "It would be great if we could get some interest.

"Even if we can't, we're going to go ahead anyway. It would be a matter of getting to New York and heading west.

"We anticipate it's going to take about 10 days... We're thinking in terms of the autumn. We don't want to be caught up in Death Valley in the heat."

Cigarette lighter

The couple were assisted on their European trip by the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease and other organisations, who helped with fuel stops.

It is understood the biomechanical engineers could receive a contribution from US car giants Ford for the latest journey.

Powered from a lead to a cigarette lighter, it is designed for the boot of people carriers and 4x4s and features an inflatable cover and fan, which are used with a conventional chemical toilet.