Joanne Fleming's life may involve a seemingly endless round of baking, but the mother-of-three could not be happier.

She swapped the dole for dough, running a caf at Middlesbrough Council's Newham Grange Leisure Farm, serving home-made scones - made to her mother's recipe - cakes and sandwiches.

The Middlesbrough branch of the business support organisation InBiz helped set her up in business.

Ms Fleming said: "Being self-employed is the best thing that ever happened to me.

"Every day you meet new people and have a chat and it's really nice, plus the environment is lovely because the farm is in a great setting.

"It's great for my kids who love coming here when they are off school and seeing all the farm animals.''

"I love being my own boss, making my own decisions and all the freedom that it entails.

"My mum's scone recipe has come in very useful indeed.''