A groundbreaking invention by a Staffordshire man which could help to save the lives of scores of children is to go on trial in Portugal.

Stephen Jones, of Rudyard, near Leek, has produced an i-Phone app designed to sound an immediate alert if a child goes missing in a public space.

The Kids in Safe Hands app is designed to work with large TV screens at venues such as shopping centres and sports arenas.

If a parent, or carer, presses the alert button, a photograph and information about the child is immediately shown on screens throughout a venue.

Stephen, owner of digital signage company Cthis, is looking to partner with shopping centre owners, sports stadia and conference venues.

And his first success has come with major European shopping group Auchan which has agreed to trial the product in Portugal.

"We believe that Kids in Safe Hands will help to protect children's lives," said Stephen. The first few minutes is crucial if a child gets separated from a parent - the FBI in the US refer to the "golden hour."

"Parents will soon be able to purchase the Kids in Safe Hands app from Apple. The app will become active every time they go into a complex which has signed up to the scheme.

"Details of the missing child will immediately appear on screens within the complex alerting security staff and members of the public to look out for the missing child."

Stephen is looking to work with UK venue owners.

However, he has business links in Portugal and his agent has secured a Kids in Safe Hands trial with the Auchan Group in Portugal.

"This is a fantastic opportunity," said Stephen. "Auchan has over 1,300 stores including 591 hypermarkets in 12 countries in Europe and the Far East.  Auchan's turn over was £43.5 million in 2010."

"We believe that retailers and venues such as concert and conference halls and airports will want to install Kids in Safe Hands as it will give customers potential peace of mind."