Would you rather this invention than toilet paper? (photos)

A student has invented a device she hopes will end what she terms 'barbaric' toilet paper. In a bid to change our bathroom habits, Miki Agrawal, from Montreal, Canada, has invented a mini bidet-like device that can be clipped onto most toilets. The compact product, named Tushy, is designed to clean people's backsides by shooting a jet of water where needed.

She told Forbes: 'All over the world - in Europe, Asia, the Middle East – people use bidets. Using toilet paper to clean your butt is barbaric!'

The product is designed to fit onto the side of a toilet, with control settings protruding to the left and a pipe to connect it to the water supply. Agrawal claims it can be installed in just 10 minutes without the need for a professional plumber, or electricity.

Users need to remove their toilet seat, fit the device to the left-hand side - which has a pipe for the jet of water positioned at the back of the seat - and connect it to the water supply.

'It shoots a precise spray of water exactly where you need it, and leaves you feeling clean and refreshed,' Agrawal told journalist Emma Johnson.

She suggests users may still wish to use a sheet of toilet to dry themselves, but noted they will use much less paper overall. There are two types of Tushy; one that only uses cold water, for $54 (£35) and one that uses warm water too for $74 (£48).

'The warm water hose connects to your sink pipe so the warm and cool water Tushy works best when your toilet is adjacent to the sink'.

The more expensive gadget comes with a pressure control and temperature dial.