A FARMER who found success with his naturally reared venison is breaking into the fashion market.

Nigel Sampson has seen a 165 per cent growth in demand for his venison products in the past two years.

Now, inspired by his wife and teenage daughters, he is launching a range of deerskin clothing and handbags.

Mr Sampson, whose Holme Farmed Venison is based in Sherburn in Elmet, near York, said: "We choose the best skins for our clothing and accessories, giving us a ready supply of deerskin that would otherwise just go to waste."

The range has been designed by Mr Sampson's wife, Miranda, and daughters, Annabel and Francesca, and will be launched at the CLA Game Fair, at Harewood House, near Leeds, held between July 27 and 29.

The family found one of the UK's last remaining leather pattern makers, based in a studio off Brick Lane, London, to make the range.

Mr Sampson said: "We've been making deerskin items such as shooting accessories for a while now, but our bags and clothes are very different. The above-the-knee straight skirt is definitely not for the headscarf and pearls set."

The clothes are available by mail order from www.holme farmedvenison.co.uk