Two-year-old Faye Cann has cured her bedtime blues by speeding to the land of nod in a souped-up Ferrari.

Faye decided she no longer wanted to sleep in her cot so her father Wayne, a burly builder, demonstrated his soft side by providing his little girl with the perfect solution for some stress-free slumber.

Faye loves driving in her daddy's soft-top red Ferrari so Wayne created a bed to look like his car complete with rubber wheels, hub caps and a window.

He created the car around the existing wooden bed, building one side and attaching it to the frame. Wayne painted its coachwork and then added some doors and the prestigious Ferrari badge.

The sports-car bed has proved such a success with little Faye at bedtime that her parents have gone into business crafting more of the vehicles.

Property developer Shelley, 37, of King's Gardens, Hove, said her daughter decided herself that she did not want to sleep in a baby cot but kept falling out of a proper bed.

Shelley searched for safety rails to attach to beds but all that was available were plastic items which were not very attractive or enticing for a youngster.

Shelley, who has been married to Wayne, 34, for almost three years, said: "Lots and lots of children find the transition from a cot to a bed a massive issue. A cot is secure and very womb like. A bed is quite open."

Shelley said Wayne's Ferrari was the love of his life - behind his wife and child.

She said: "The car is a two-plus-two and has a child seat in so Faye can go for a drive as well.

"She loves it, so Wayne decided to turn the plain single bed into a car. It's fantastic. It's a feature in the room now."

Wayne spent a week creating the car bed before unveiling it to the youngster.

Shelley said: "We told her to go into her room and look at the present. She now shows it to everyone who comes to the house."

The car was Wayne's prototype but he has started making more to order.

He will do any car a customer wants but needs a few weeks' notice.

The cars cost £99 each and he will adapt them to fit any bed.

Shelley said: "He will do almost any car - a Porsche or a Noddy type, anything.

"A guy we know who runs a garage said they were so good, he wanted Wayne to make two wooden sides to stick to the sides of his car.

"I can't promise it will get a child to go to bed every time but it helps."

For further details, telephone Shelley on 01273 327260 before 7pm.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005