CHILDREN carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Latest studies show that youngsters toe, on average, 15 to 30 per cent of their body weight to school every day - that's up to 20 per cent more than the safe limit advised by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

The CSP believe that back and neck pain in school-age children can be caused by heavy and poorly-packed schoolbags.

We're lagging behind Europe on protecting our children - France, Germany and the Netherlands all have policies on maximum weights for backpacks. So does Japan.

Doug and Nikki Essex, from New Milton, watched their four children - Matthew, now 16, Edward, 14, Oliver, 10, and Alice, seven - struggle to school with bags rammed with books.

But when they went on a mission to find a bag that was sturdy, lightweight and looked cool - they came up against a brick wall.

Doug explains: "We were going through four bags each a year. Desks and lockers are pretty much a thing of the past. Edward was carrying around a bag weighing 52 pounds, and all the children were complaining about back pains."

So last year, Doug and Nikki decided something had to be done. They teamed up with an ergonomist and two sports therapists to design a suitable schoolbag.

Nine designs later, and they'd come up with a solution - four different types of bag, suitable for everyone from a small child to a seasoned traveller.

The company Wheeley Bags was born.

Doug explains: "The main criteria were the back panel, so the bag could be worn in the correct position, padded straps and sliding wheel covers, that could be tucked away when not in use.

"We changed the materials, to make it lighter, and altered the sizes, so the bags would fit in a hold-all.

"And then we added accessories such as the combination lock, i-Pod pocket with outlet and another pocket for a mobile phone."

The children of friends then tested the bags and came back with their verdicts and suggestions.

In June, the bags went on the market, and attracted interest from more than a dozen schools in the area.

Today, the following are all partners of Wheeley Bags - Durslton Court, Barton on Sea; Bruton School for Girls, Somerset; Ballard School, New Milton; and Clayesmore School Shop, Blandford Forum.

We were invited to try out the bags. So we put cub reporter Harry Nash, 14, a Bournemouth School pupil from Southbourne, on the case "The bags are like those small suitcases on wheels, only with lots of pockets and compartments to store things. They're quite light, although that obviously changes when I put all my school stuff in them, and there's lots of room for all my books, drinks bottles, lunch-box and sports kit - and it's easy to find stuff when I'm in a hurry.

"There's even a padded laptop case. The wheels are useful for when I'm walking to and from the bus stop, although I tend to carry the bags when I'm at school, as I don't want to do anything that will make me stand out from the rest, but the straps are padded and don't cut in.

"I have a locker at school, but I don't use it that much, as it's often quite a long way from where I need to be, and I don't have enough time to keep going backwards and forwards.

"At first I found the straps would drag along the floor when I was wheeling the bags, but now I've figured out how to fix them out of the way. Overall, I think the bags are really good - and I'm not feeling the strain so much!"

  • Wheeley Bags start from £39.99 - visit wheeley-bags.co.uk