A NEW product which clears blanket weed from ponds without harming plants or fish has proved such a success that the company behind it is preparing to launch it internationally.

The Malvern Hills Science Park company cellpharm only laun-ched Blanket-out! four months ago but the increasing popularity of ponds and a bad year for blanket weed have helped sales rocket.

America is now being targeted and the year-old company's website business is thriving.

Director Dr Jonathan Mortimer said: "We started in a very small way with Malvern and Worcester Aquatic Centres and Aquatic Habitat at Brockworth.

"We got such a good response that we've started really pushing it out. We've had lots of success with independent shops who are selling it really well and the Japanese Koi Company in Henlow is now selling it - they're like a hypermarket for aquatic products - and they say it's flying out the door.

"They've ordered more every week and are now ordering about 20 cases of 12 at a time."

Clive Longstaff, of Malvern Aquatic Centre, said it had tested Blanket-out! in its own aquariums and containers with lilies and plants and passed on what it had learned to customers.

Mr Longstaff said the response from customers had been superb.

"It's great that it's on our doorstep, that someone with the technical know-how is here in Malvern, " he said.

Dr Mortimer said: "We're staggered by how many people have ponds with blanket weed.

"This year seems to be the worst year for it. That might be because we had a dry April and the wind whipped up fertiliser into ponds, so encouraging algae to grow."

More information on cellpharm is available on www.cellpharm. co.uk.