A FONDNESS for furry animals has become big business for a North-East couple, who had been planning a quiet retirement in the Yorkshire Dales.

When they were living in Whitley Bay, John Ogbourne and wife Joyce were inspired by their daughters guinea pigs to have mugs and T-shirts printed which would appeal to others who kept the animals.

Mr Ogbourne's website design skills proved handy and a small selection of novelty gifts for pet-lovers were advertised online.

But what started as a bit of fun soon began to gather momentum - so much so the Winking Cavy brand now has a global customer base, taking orders from the US, Peru, Australia and Japan.

Mr Ogbourne - a former health service civil servant - and his wife have now moved to the home they bought for their retirement, in Redmire, Wensleydale.

And Winking Cavy has moved with them, taking space on the Leyburn Business Park, and providing two part-time jobs.

"As much as 90 per cent of our business is done online but demand is such that we have also had to produce a brochure for customers who don't have computers,'' said Mr Ogbourne.

"We are also going to be expanding our product range to include stock for other pets. Rats, hamsters, rabbits and chinchillas are just as popular these days.''

You can visit Winking Cavy at www.winking-cavy.co.uk

Other websites run by Mr and Mrs Ogbourne include www.giftsforpetlovers.co.uk and www.animalprintsuk.com