A NEW range of jewellery which can give health benefits to those who wear it has been launched by a Tees Valley business.

Magnolife, which is based in Carlton-in-Cleveland, has created a specially designed range of high-quality jewellery which incorporates the ancient medical art of magnotherapy.

Magnotherapy is used to promote circulation, which can have the benefit of reducing toxins and lactic acid in the body and can also help relieve arthritic pain, migraines, back ache and sciatica and a range of other complaints.

The jewellery range is a natural progression from its previous work, which saw the company producing health care products for both humans and animals.

Partner Heather Hyde explained further: "We run a stud farm and one day an uncle brought some magnets back from the Middle East and suggested we try them on a horse which was suffering greatly and hadn't responded to the usual treatments.

"The magnotherapy worked brilliantly and we haven't looked back."

Along with Lisa Bickenson and Sue Cross, heather formed Magnolife nearly a year ago and the trio run the company from the Carlton Bank Stud in Carlton near Stokesley. After achieving success with their healthcare products for humans and animals, which include knee wraps, back supports and neck collars, they turned their attention towards creating a high-quality jewellery range.

"There wasn't anybody producing quality jewellery that could also have therapeutic effect at an affordable price, and we thought we could fill that role," said Heather. "We design the items ourselves and then have them specially produced."

Magnolife does a lot of business on the Internet and by mail order and has customers in Scandinavia, France and Saudi Arabia.

The business has received help and support from Business Link Tees Valley. Small business adviser Andrea Miles said: "We have encouraged Magnolife to promote their jewellery range. It's an excellent addition to their existing healthcare products and we are confident it will prove to be a great success."