Instead he has spent the last five years designing and developing a low voltage, low energy recessed downlighter, which is fire and noise resistant.

Marketed under the Snaplight and Staylight trade names, the lights are being manufactured in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire by Electro-Technik under licence from Mr Jones's company FL Patents and sold directly to builders. "Mid sized housebuilders developing upmarket apartments around the M25 region are the best source of sales at the moment," says Mr Jones.

When he set out to design a better light, Mr Jones did not realise he would also be building in important fire and acoustic properties. However, the first tests proved the design had several merits.

Normal recessed lighting cuts into the ceiling panel, removing part of the fireproofing and in some situations creating a fire hazard by generating heat in the ceiling void. FL Patents' unit is sealed, which cuts heat and noise transmission and forms a barrier between the ceiling and the floor above.

It has withstood two hours testing at 1,000 degrees Celsius at Warrington Fire Research Centre. The industry standard is 30 or 60 minutes fire resistance, depending on the application.

The lights have now been stamped with all the relevant British Safety Standards and have been approved by the National House Building Council, Local Authorities Building Control and Zurich Building Guarantees.

Mr Jones has also taken out international patents to protect his design from imitation. "As far as I know, we are on our own with these lights," he says.

It has cost £250,000 to get to this stage, most of which has been funded by Mr Jones. Patents do not come cheap. The £48,000 Smart Award from the Department of Trade and Industry was welcome not just for the cash but also for the kudos.

"I was on my own at the beginning and it was not that easy. The Smart Award gave credibility as well as money," says Mr Jones. Advice in the early days from specialists at Business Link Birmingham and Solihull was also gratefully received.

At a time when many British manufacturing jobs are going overseas, Mr Jones is

FL Patents does not have direct employees, but outsources work to legal, patent, marketing, computer and other specialists. It receives a royalty on sales. It is now at the stage of gearing up for greater things. The Frankfurt International Light Show is coming up next month and Mr Jones is taking a stand there and hoping to bag some European sales.

Richard Stannard, of business Link in Birmingham said: "There is huge potential for the product both here and overseas." The UK market for recessed downlighters is estimated to be worth £90m a year.

Mr Jones has no regrets about taking on a demanding new project rather than opting for a conventional retirement.

However, he points out that it is not possible to dabble with a new business. "You have to go the whole way. It takes twice as long and costs twice as much as you expect. It does not come easy."

That said, he is raring for more.