There have been many novel attempts over the years to reinvent the humble bedside alarm clock. Remember the Goblin Teasmade that woke you with a nice cuppa? Then there were low-frequency rumbling alarms, flashing lights (“Who can sleep with the blinking light on?” ran the ad) and alarms that roused you by releasing a fragrance — eucalyptus or peppermint — at the appointed hour.

There are no such niceties with the Laser alarm clock, which challenges you to make like Han Solo first thing in the morning — in the sense that the only way to silence the damn thing is to accurately fire a supplied laser pistol at the centre of a target held by a plastic figurine on top of the clock.

That means that to switch it off, you are required to sit up in bed, squint your sleep-addled eyes, aim carefully and take out the target before the alarm rouses your household.

By that time you’ll be well and truly awake. Unless of course you are unable to find the battery-powered laser pistol. In which case, you’ll be forced to rush over to the alarm and struggle with clumsy fingers to remove the batteries.

As the designers point out, by that point you’ll be out of bed and well prepared for the day’s other trials and tribulations.

Laser alarm clock, £20 from paramountzone.com