31 August 2010 Last updated at 06:56 ET

Bristol incontinence researchers offer to pay for urine

Volunteers to provide urine samples to help develop an odour detector are being sought by researchers in Bristol.

The Bristol Urological Institute is testing the device, which alerts incontinence sufferers by changing colour when they have a problem.

The detector is a small piece of plastic which can be worn on a watch, key-ring or wallet.

People selected to take part will each receive a Marks and Spencer's voucher worth £10.

The idea is that people using it are alerted to bouts of incontinence before anyone else notices.

'Normal life'

Adele Long, from the BioMed Centre based at the urological institute in Southmead Hospital, said: "People with continence difficulties are most worried about leakage and odour.

"These fears are often unfounded and can stop people from enjoying a normal social and working life.

"These devices will help make older people feel more confident in the knowledge that if they have a problem they can do something about it before anyone else notices."

The device is being developed by the University of the West of England and Brunel University.

The project is part of the New Dynamics of Ageing programme which is funded by the five UK Research Councils.