A board game invented by a Hockliffe man could soon be helping youngsters with their maths in classrooms up and down the country.

The numbers game is already being used by pupils at Caddington Village School, which Tom Lennett's granddaughters attend.

Now Scotsman Tom is planning to unveil the game, called Numenko, at this year's Education Show at Birmingham's NEC from March 4-6.

The event is described as the UK's largest showcase of educational resources and exciting new ideas for schools.

Students at Central Bedfordshire College in Dunstable have produced a promotional video of the game being played, with a commentary that will be on display on Tom's stand at the Education Show.

Tom, 66, is hoping the teaching profession will catch on to the benefits of his board game, as he says it makes learning maths fun.

He said: "I've always known Numenko has educational possibilities so I'm really pleased to get the chance to demonstrate it to the teaching profession."

Tom got the idea when he wanted to help daughter Stephanie with her maths. When he couldn't find a game in the shops that would help her, he began devising one himself.

Numenko involves players using number tiles to make up sums on a board, crossword style. Players can add, multiply, subtract and divide.

Stephanie is now married with children of her own, but Tom is hoping a new generation of youngsters, plus mums and dads and adults who simply enjoy numbers, will buy the game.

Numenko was launched at the Milton Keynes Christmas Fayre in October and is on sale in local shops.

It is already available at Little Timbers in Middleton Hall, Milton Keynes, and the Matilda Bay gift shop in Woburn.

To find out more about the game, go to www.numenko.com.