A FONDNESS for small, furry animals has become big business for a 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 so inspired by their daughter's guinea pigs they had mugs and T-shirts printed which would appeal to others who kept the pets..

Mr Ogbourne's dabbling in web site design proved handy and a selection of novelty gifts for pet lovers were advertised online for the first time.

But what started as a bit of fun soon began to gather momentum, so much so that The Winking Cavy brand now has a global customer base.

The Ogbournes are now taking orders from guinea pig enthusiasts from America, Peru, Australia and Japan.

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

But Winking Cavy has had to move with them, taking up a unit on the Leyburn Business Park, and providing two new part-time jobs.

Mr Ogbourne said: "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 computer.

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

Anyone with pet shopping in mind can visit the Winking Cavy online at www.winking-cavy.co.uk

Other web sites run by Mr and Mrs Ogbourne include www.gifts forpetlovers.co.uk and www.animal printsuk.com