A Welsh invention which claims to repel rowdy teenage ne'er-do-wells while leaving lawabiding fortysomethings and septuagenarian war heroes to go about their business unmolested has been creating a bit of a stir in the UK and international press this week.

Howard Stapleton's "Mosquito" emits an ultrasonic sound which can be heard by most kids and teenagers but is inaudible to the majority of adults over 30 due to the inevitable deterioration of hearing with age.

Field tests at a grocery store in Barry, South Wales, and a shop in Stapleton's home town of Merthyr Tydfil have proved successful, with rowdy yobs driven from the premises.

The future looks bright for the Mosquito, with its inventor admitting to Reuters: "All I'm getting is pats on the back." And no wonder. ®

Related stories

• Home Secretary swats away calls for Mosquito ban (11 March 2010)
• Teen-bothering sonic device now does grownups too (2 December 2008)
• Welsh couple cop Mosquito flak (3 April 2008)
• Calls to ban hoodie-busting sonic weapon (12 February 2008)
• Sick Brit yobs graffiti dog (30 October 2007)
• Kid-only tone firm bids for the charts (26 September 2006)
• Police cuff two in hoodie website probe (11 September 2006)
• Aussie council deploys Barry Manilow sonic weapon (5 June 2006)
• Chinese claim world's first ultrasonic frog (15 March 2006)
• Asbo teen ordered to get legless (18 July 2005)
• Foetus threatened with Asbo (12 July 2005)
• UK street scum face wrath of shouting lamppost (30 March 2005)