But there's a sting in this tale – for the revolutionary invention is made from nettles!

Mirfield's Camira Fabrics has produced the material, called Sting Plus, using fibres extracted from nettle stems blended with wool.

The company has won a European Business Award for the Environment, from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

It is one of 11 UK companies to compete against European winners in the final.

Camira marketing manager Ian Burn said: "We were trying to develop a new product made from entirely natural materials. There are different fabrics you can get from plants, one of which is from nettles. It was done in the 19th century by the Scots, then the Germans used it during the war when the allies cut off their supplies of cotton.

"Since then man made fabrics have come along and the expertise has been lost, so we had to go back to the drawing board.

"We grow the nettles in Leicester and East Yorkshire. The fibre is extracted and blended with wool and is dyed. It's woven into a roll of fabric and then goes to furniture manufacturers or upholsterers. It goes here there and everywhere.

"The product has captured people's imagination. They don't understand how you can sit on fabric made of nettles without being stung!"

The winners of the competition will be announced in June.