AN inventor who claims he can solve the problems of world hunger and household waste in one fell swoop is frustrated by a 10-year battle to be heard.

John Prendergast, 66, of Leas Dale, Eltham, has invented a unique system called plastic container gardening which he says uses less earth and water than conventional crop growing.

The method sees upended plastic containers containing water used to grow food. They are attached to beams and arranged on top of one another so any excess liquid trickles down into the one below.

But despite first contacting News Shopper about his idea 10 years ago, has been unable to get funding to take it further.

Mr Prendergast, who has five grandchildren, said: “I want to feed the world for nothing but I can’t do it on my own.

“I’m not doing it to make money - I’m doing it to save lives.”

Mr Prendergast started the project soon after an accident forced him to give up his job as a heavy goods delivery driver in 1996. News Shopper: John Prendergast has invented plastic container gardening

He explained: “I know I’m not a gardener, I just like experimenting and trying to solve problems.

“For the past 10 years I’ve watched what Mother Nature does and adapted it to my system.

“Just a bit of loving care and a drop of water is what nature needs.”

Mr Prendergast has systems up and running on his Coldharbour estate allotment and also at the Mottingham Community and Learning Shop And he has grown a variety of vegetables including radishes, lettuces, and sweetcorn. He claims the only failure so far was his attempt to grow rice - something he blames on the English climate.

Mr Pendergast, who has also made a “house of the future” out of balsa wood, says his method would be a boost to third world countries where there is not much rain.

He explained: “When you pour water over a crop it disperses. With my way one drop of water goes straight to the crop. There’s no waste at all.” News Shopper: John Prendergast has invented plastic container gardening

His invention has been picked up by American non-profit organisation Techonology for the Poor, run by a professor whose students are spreading the word about Mr Prendergast’s idea.

He also does regular presentations on his invention.

But despite writing to everyone from the Queen and the Pope downwards, nobody has backed his idea and Mr Prendergast continues to fund the project out of his own pension.

He said: “People say they like it but no one’s said ‘John, we like your idea and we’re going to use it’. That’s the crazy world I’m in.

“I’ve been hitting my head against a brick wall for so many years.

“I’ll probably be doing this until I pop my clogs.”

For more information on the system, visit recycling.moonfruit.com