Byline: JAYA NARAIN

IT'S a running joke among women that they can never find anything in their handbags.

But now an illuminating idea by a young design student could be the answer to their prayers.

Rosanna Kilfedder, 24, has created the world's reproduction street lights first solar-powered handbag, meaning fumbling in the dark trying to find those house keys could become a thing of the past.

Called the Sun Trap, not only does the interior of the bag light up but it also harnesses energy from the sun to charge electrical gadgets such as mobile phones and handheld computers.

Miss Kilfedder described how she had the flash of inspiration after watching her friends' frustration in trying to find their belongings.

'I had the idea for the handbag after seeing so many friends frantically searching their bags for house keys, usually on a dark doorstep,' she said.

'I also noticed friends using their mobile phones like torches to examine the contents of their bag, which gave me the idea of lighting up the bag. I was thinking about safety and usefulness and had the idea of including a portable charger for emergency situations.

'My mobile phone battery has run down several times so I thought this would be a good way round the problem of being stuck late at night with a phone which would not switch on.

'The design I've developed is just a prototype at the moment, but I'd really like to see it on the high street - I think it would be a big help to many women.' The Sun Trap uses a solar cell to trap energy from sunlight, storing it in the bag's internal battery.

When the bag is unzipped, the lining - powered by the battery and made from an electroluminescent material similar to that of mobile phones - lights up, helping its owner to see things at the bottom.

Monogram Multicolore Fake Handbags

The lining goes dark automatically when the bag's zip is closed and it switches off after 15 seconds to conserve the battery if the bag
embroidered patches is accidentally left open.

The internal battery also acts as a portable renewable energy source and can be used to charge mobile phones, handheld computers and other wireless devices while on the move.

Miss Kilfedder, from St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, could earn a fortune-if her design is adopted by a big-name manufacturer.

She has already won an award for innovation at Brunel University, where she is a student.

Brunel's enterprise centre is helping her to develop the idea commercially by applying for patents.

Director Keith Robson said: 'Rosanna is a very determined young lady, who has had a brilliant idea.

'We're absolutely delighted to be helping Rosanna on her way to becoming a successful young entrepreneur.'

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