BOSSES at an East Lancashire firm hope they will be toasting success come the millennium - when their hangover cure hits the high streets.

Science in Sport, based at Brockhall Village, has been supplying the sporting elite with energy-boosting products and nutritional supplements for some time. But the latest addition to its range, a hangover treatment called Hedstart, is to be made generally available, after creating waves on the internet. Company boss and sports scientist Tim Lawson, 34, said Hedstart, manufactured at the firm's Altham factory, has attracted a lot of interest.

"We attend sports industry trade shows with our electrolyte replacement drink, Go, which is designed to help people rehydrate.

"We knew that many of the other exhibitors were queueing for samples first thing in the morning to help ease hangovers. We then heard it was considered the best hangover cure and thought we ought to look into the market more seriously," he said. After much intensive research, Mr Lawson has come up with a concoction of natural amino acids, vitamins, glucose and soya-derived nutrients designed to be taken with water at the end of a heavy night.

Mr Lawson continued: "It is not actually alcohol that does the damage, but what the body converts it into. Feeling ill is caused by the toxins produced by the body in response to the alcohol.

"Hedstart contains two soya derivatives, for which there is much-published scientific evidence, one which has positive effects on the liver and the other on brain function, such as memory and recall."

Science in Sport, established in 1992 by Tim and brother Simon, employs qualified sports scientists, food technologists and a physician.

Its sports products are endorsed by cyclist Chris Boardman and leading Olympic swimmers and athletes.

Tim Lawson is a competitive cyclist with a Sports Science degree from John Moore's University, Liverpool.

Hedstart is available on the world wide web, but negotiations are under way to supply it to supermarket chains and high street chemists in time for the festive season.

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