A company that specialises in devices to prevent misfuelling has won a record investment from some of the country’s leading entrepreneurs.

DDN was awarded £250,000 to help promote its Misfuelling Prevention Device (MPD) after appearing on BBC2’s Dragons’ Den programme. Corporate bosses Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis teamed up to invest in the product.

The MPD is a retro-fit tube that replaces a vehicle’s existing filler cap and prevents users from putting a petrol nozzle into the cap of a diesel vehicle.

DDN is looking to increase its manufacturing capacity and aims to fit 83% of the new and used market.

Michael Cotton, managing director of DDN, explaining the reasons for installing the MPD, said: “The financial impact of mis-fuelling can be huge, costing between £250 and £12,500 to drain the tank and sort out the engine.”

DDN has successfully trialled its product on more than 15 police fleets and Mr Cotton believes that fleets will play a major role in the growth of the business.