A beer mat could give women a simple test to check if their drink has been laced with a date-rape drug.

The mat, being developed by a Derbyshire firm, incorporates a testing strip for drinkers to detect certain drugs.

The firm said the device could prevent women from falling victim to rapists on a night out.

An advice group for date-rape victims as welcomed the device.

'Easy test'

Women can put a drop of their drink on to a strip, attached to the mat, which will change colour if the drink is contaminated.

The mat will detect Rohypnol and GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid) - the two main drugs used by would-be attackers to sedate their victims.

Paul Selby, of SureScreen Diagnostics based in Derby, said: "This will give women an easy test to prevent them falling victim of a rapist.

"This is something that is becoming increasingly common and this device is there if people are in suspicious circumstances.

"It is something they can have in their hand when they go drinking."

'Brilliant idea'

The Roofie Foundation, an advice group for drug-rape victims, said there were 876 cases of drug rape in 2000, a rise of 11% on the 778 cases in the previous year.

It estimates the number of victims in 2001 will show a slight increase to about 900 cases.

The foundation beleives the true figure could be five-times that number, because many rape victims do not report the crime.

Graham Rhodes, the chief executive of the foundation, said: "The beer mat is a brilliant idea.

"It will raise awareness to people that they do have to be careful.

"It sends the message to people who are spiking drinks that they can be caught so they are less likely to be spiking drinks in pubs."

Drugs fight

PC Clive Needham, a licensing officer for Derbyshire Police, said the force had been evaluating the beer mat.

He said: "It definitely has potential - anything that helps in the fight against the use and dealing of drugs is welcome.

"It could give people a degree of confidence and increases awareness.

"If people are aware of the potential problem they are more likely to take steps to make sure they are not a victim of it."