A WORCESTER couple are celebrating after two of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs invested £100,000 in their product.

Last night millions of people watched as Neil and Laura Westwood entered the Dragons’ Den and presented Magic Whiteboard to Duncan Bannatyne, James Caan, Peter Jones, Theo Paphitis and Deborah Meaden.

The couple, of Warndon Villages, had the unusual experience of widespread interest in their product – a statically-charged, reusable whiteboard that can be stuck up on walls, glass, wood, and wallpaper without the need of any drawing pins, tape, or glue – before they eventually decided to accept Mr Paphitis and Ms Meaden’s offer of £50,000 each in exchange for 40 per cent of the business.

Magic Whiteboard, which is reusable and recyclable, will now be sold across the country in more than 300 Ryman stationery stores, which are owned by Mr Paphitis.

Speaking to your Worcester News Mr Westwood, aged 35, said: “It’s amazing. We have been working hard for the last two years and now this could really change our lives and provide for our family and our daughter Ella.

“This sort of thing doesn’t happen very often. It’s scary, but we are absolutely delighted.”

Mr Westwood said that while they would have liked to have worked with Mr Bannatyne they thought they did what was best for the business.

“We are absolutely delighted with the deal because it means we can distribute Magic Whiteboard across the whole of the UK through all of Theo’s shops,” he said.

“Also, Deborah’s marketing and branding expertise will help us attract new customers.”

Mr Westwood, who is head of continuous improvement at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, said they did not have an easy ride from the dragons.

“While we were in the den there were times when we thought we weren’t going to get any investment, especially when Peter Jones ran up and wrote ‘I’m out’ on the whiteboard very early on,” he said.

“Deborah Meaden also got up and scrunched up a sheet and I thought it might be game over at that point but they eventually saw the potential in the product and the opportunity to make money.”

Mrs Westwood said: “I actually really enjoyed the experience. I was really nervous before we went in because I had to demonstrate the product, and if that went wrong that would’ve been the end of it.

“Neil was doing the pitch and I didn’t have anything prepared to say so in a way that made me feel more nervous but once we watched their reactions and saw quite early on they were interested I quite liked the debate we had in there.”

For more information on Magic Whiteboard visit magicwhiteboard.co.uk