A FIRM based on the Heathfield Industrial Estate has developed the world's first anti-bacterial school chair.

School furniture specialist Titan Furniture UK has pioneered The Titan+ which has been clinically and scientifically proven to kill 99.9 per cent of all known bacteria and fungal diseases on touch.

More than 1,000 schools have invested in the chairs since January and the company, which employs 20 and has a turnover of around £6.5 million, is forecasting sales of more than 100,000 by the end of 2014.

A recent study by the London School of Hygiene and Queen Mary, University of London, showed that faecal bacteria can survive on hands and surfaces for hours at a time, especially during warmer temperatures, and is easily transferred by touch to everything from door handles to food. Some schools have even been forced to shut to try to control the spread of disease.