diff --git a/fptest_fpgui.lpk b/fptest_fpgui.lpk
index dac7e7c..d042f09 100644
--- a/fptest_fpgui.lpk
+++ b/fptest_fpgui.lpk
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
         <CompilerPath Value="$(CompPath)"/>
       </Other>
     </CompilerOptions>
-    <Files Count="2">
+    <Files Count="3">
       <Item1>
         <Filename Value="src/fpGUI/GUITestRunner.pas"/>
         <UnitName Value="GUITestRunner"/>
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@
         <Filename Value="src/fpGUI/formimages.pas"/>
         <UnitName Value="formimages"/>
       </Item2>
+      <Item3>
+        <Filename Value="src/fpGUI/customgauge.pas"/>
+        <UnitName Value="customgauge"/>
+      </Item3>
     </Files>
     <RequiredPkgs Count="2">
       <Item1>
diff --git a/fptest_fpgui.pas b/fptest_fpgui.pas
index 8c922f0..de528ab 100644
--- a/fptest_fpgui.pas
+++ b/fptest_fpgui.pas
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 interface
 
 uses
-  GUITestRunner, formimages;
+  GUITestRunner, formimages, CustomGauge;
 
 implementation
 
diff --git a/src/fpGUI/customgauge.pas b/src/fpGUI/customgauge.pas
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06f3e82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/fpGUI/customgauge.pas
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+{
+  This unit defines a custom Gauge descendant which improves the visibility
+  of the background. The background is what tells the end user the state
+  of the test run.
+
+  Copyright (c) 2011 by Graeme Geldenhuys
+    All rights reserved.
+}
+unit CustomGauge;
+
+{$mode objfpc}{$H+}
+
+interface
+
+uses
+  fpg_base, fpg_main, fpg_gauge;
+
+type
+  TGUIRunnerGauge = class(TfpgBaseGauge)
+  protected
+    procedure BarDraw; override;
+    procedure BackgroundDraw; override;
+  published
+    property    Align;
+    property    Anchors;
+    property    BorderStyle;
+    property    Color;
+    property    Enabled;
+    property    FirstColor;
+    property    Hint;
+    property    Kind;
+    property    MaxValue;
+    property    MinValue;
+    property    ParentShowHint;
+    property    Progress;
+    property    SecondColor;
+    property    ShowHint;
+    property    ShowText;
+    property    Visible;
+    property    OnShowHint;
+  end;
+
+
+implementation
+
+{ TGUIRunnerGauge }
+
+procedure TGUIRunnerGauge.BarDraw;
+var
+  BarLength: Longint;
+  SavedRect: TfpgRect;
+begin
+  SavedRect := FClientRect; // save client rect for text !!
+  with FClientRect do
+  begin
+    case FKind of
+      gkHorizontalBar:
+          begin
+            { now paint as normal }
+            BarLength := Longint(Trunc( (Width * Percentage) / 100.0 ) );
+            if BarLength > 0 then
+            begin
+              if BarLength > Width then
+                BarLength := Width;
+              Width := BarLength;
+              // left top
+              Canvas.SetColor(fpgLighter(Color, 45));
+              Canvas.DrawLine(Left, Bottom, Left, Top);  // left
+              Canvas.DrawLine(Left, Top, Right, Top);    // top
+              // right bottom
+              Canvas.SetColor(fpgDarker(Color, 45));
+              Canvas.DrawLine(Right, Top, Right, Bottom);   // right
+              Canvas.DrawLine(Right, Bottom, Left, Bottom);   // bottom
+              // inside gradient fill
+              InflateRect(FClientRect, -1, -1);
+              Canvas.GradientFill(FClientRect, Color, fpgLighter(Color, 45), gdVertical);
+            end;  { if }
+            FClientRect := SavedRect;
+          end;
+      gkVerticalBar:
+          begin
+            inherited BarDraw;
+          end;
+    end;  { case }
+  end;  { FClientRect }
+end;
+
+procedure TGUIRunnerGauge.BackgroundDraw;
+begin
+  FClientRect.SetRect(0, 0, Width, Height);
+  with FClientRect do
+  begin
+    { Kind specific Bacground }
+    case FKind of
+      { Currently Text doesn't require additional Bacground }
+      { And so horizontal and vertical bar - Unless style requires it}
+      gkHorizontalBar:
+          begin
+            {Client area is Widget area, to start with}
+            Canvas.ClearClipRect;
+            Canvas.Clear(TfpgColor($c4c4c4));
+            { This must be adjusted according the selected style }
+            Canvas.SetColor(TfpgColor($999999));
+            Canvas.SetLineStyle(1, lsSolid);
+            Canvas.DrawRectangle(FClientRect);
+            { This must be completed and adjusted with border style }
+            InflateRect(FClientRect, -1, -1);
+            Canvas.SetLineStyle(1, lsSolid); // just in case background changed that
+          end;
+      else
+          begin
+            inherited BackgroundDraw;
+          end;
+    end;
+  end; { with }
+end;
+
+end.
+