A healthcare business that was started in the back bedroom of its founder has launched a major export drive after developing an innovative product.

In the past five years, Didcot-based Reed Shilling Healthcare has doubled its workforce to 30 and growth is expected to increase 30 per cent a year.

Set up by Stephen Ley at his Wallingford home in 1984, Reed Shilling specialises in manufacturing a range of products used in hospitals, such as wipes, gloves and bibs.

But Mr Ley said recent growth had been fuelled by the launch of its Oasis Bedbath, which is a large microwavable towel pack that allows patients, particularly those in intensive care, to be bathed from head to toe.

Reed Shilling is the sole European manufacturer and is now exporting the product to the US, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. Turnover has grown to £3m a year. It means the company, based on the Southmead Industrial Park, is one of the few current manufacturing success stories.

Management are looking to take on up to six new staff a year as the business continues to grow rapidly.

Mr Ley, who formerly worked for healthcare firm Johnson & Johnson, said: "Spending on health is growing because of the ageing population, not just here but around the world.

"We are a successful manufacturing business because we are associated with a growing service industry, which is the key. Also, concern about hospital hygiene is growing and we are benefiting from that."

The growth of the business has also been helped by hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment by finance firm NMB Heller.