TWELVE months after launching The ISIS adventure game, Chester inventor Andrew Reeves is heading to the USA.

This month 8,000 of the cryptic metal puzzles will be shipped across the Atlantic in the company’s biggest single order to date – and these are just to honour advance sales.

Andrew first launched The ISIS as a part-time venture last September, when it was featured on the Jonathan Ross show.

It is an aluminium sphere which must be manipulated in a certain way before it will reveal a key that leads the way to money prizes.

Andrew said: ‘It has been a phenomenal year. The ISIS is now being sold in the UK by Hamleys and Harrods.

‘In Chester we are sold in The Writing Place, Bridge Street Rows. It has also been launched in the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium and we are launching in France in October.’

Cash has now been hidden in towns, villages and shops across the UK and now Europe.

Its popularity has meant Andrew gave up his job as an IT consultant to fulfill orders.

Andrew also featured on BBC’s Dragon’s Den earlier this year, when Peter Jones offered £200,000 for a 50% share in the business. Andrew turned down the offer, and says he doesn’t regret the decision.

‘From a financial point of view we didn’t need their investment, but what would have helped us was their expertise.

‘It is incredibly hard to get products in the shops without already having contacts.Our journey would have been easier if the dragons had been on board, but we are still doing well.’

Plans for the coming year include the ISIS II, and a stand at the Tutunkhamun exhibition in London.

Andrew puts the sphere’s success down to its quality and hidden intrigues. He said: ‘Each one is unique. With The ISIS, you crack the puzzle and then get the chance to go on an adventure to win £1,000.’