Time is running out for budding inventors and innovators in the Highlands and Islands to pit their new devices and processes against the rest of Scotland in this year's John Logie Baird awards, the most prestigious competition in the field.

The deadline for entries to the competition is Thursday 31st August, which leaves potential entrants only a little over a week to submit their applications.

The event is supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Innovation manager Pat MacLeod said: "The Highlands and Islands have had a good track record in this competition in the past, with innovators from the area regularly receiving recognition at national level. Putting new devices or processes before a wider audience like this can be extremely valuable - the inventors can receive valuable advice on how to develop their ideas further, and the publicity generated can lead to commercial success."

In the last two years alone entries from the Highlands and Islands have ranged from one end of the area to the other, from Kintyre to Shetland: Charles McMillan from Macrihanish went through to the national finals with his new water-trap for bagpipers - allowing the instrument to be kept in tune more easily; Dr David Watmough from Inverness received a second-place award in the national competition for his new scanning device which measures angiogenesis (the development of blood vessels) around breast cancers; and Kenny Johnson, of Vidlin in Shetland, also received a national second place award for his skeletal electric fiddle which broke new ground in sound reproduction and weight-saving.

Pat MacLeod said: "These success stories demonstrate the wide range of projects and innovations which are being developed in the Highlands and Islands, proving the people of this area are as creative and forward-thinking as anyone else. We're keen to see this strong track record maintained and would like to see anyone who has a new idea or produce come forward."

Once entries for the awards are received they will compete, at a regional Highlands and Islands level, in a variety of categories depending on the nature of their application. The regional finals will be held in mid-September, with the winners going on to the national finals later in the year.

Entry forms and further information on the John Logie Baird Awards for Innovation are available on the dedicated website, www.logiebairdawards.co.uk - or by telephoning Pat MacLeod on Tel: 01463 244343.