It was on this day in 1934 that a patent was originally recorded for the first ‘cat’s eye’ road marker by Yorkshireman Percy Shaw.

Halifax-born Shaw, who had a background in repairing machine tools, formed a new company - Reflecting Roadstuds Ltd - to manufacture his invention the following year.

Though sales were initially slow, approval from the Ministry of Transport eventually gave a huge boost to production.

By the 1950’s, Shaw was exporting roadstuds all over the world from his Halifax base and, such was the success of the invention, he was awarded an OBE in 1965.

Shaw's eccentric nature was later revealed through an ITV documentary made by acclaimed TV personality Alan Whicker in 1968. He passed away eight years later at the age of 86.

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