A SMALL but dedicated team who have been making high-quality and quirky teapots fit for any Mad Hatter’s tea party have seen the business come back from the brink to become a worldwide distributor.

Ceramic Inspirations, based in Leyburn, has just seven potters who create beautiful and bespoke teapots but business has boomed thanks to a new owner and his overseas contacts.

The firm has recently completed an order for more than 1,600 teapots to be sent to the USA for nationwide distribution in department store Tuesday Morning – and staff had to work around the clock for six days in order to finish the order on time.

Olivia Dunn and Liz Porter said many of the same potters had worked together at the firm since 1979, riding out several new owners and a liquidation of the business.

Ms Porter said: “We have been going since 1979 under a couple of different owners, but unfortunately the business had to close in 2015, which was very upsetting.

“About six months later, Ian Williamson bought the business and set it up again, investing in improvements to the cafe and shop and finding larger orders for us.”

The team, including Pauline Fawcett, Karen Jobling, Charlotte Yare, Alex Iveson and Margaret Burnett, have been able to take a breather since completing the huge task of the USA order – but are still working hard on orders destined for Australia, Japan and Belgium.

At Ceramic Inspirations, although there are classic teapots on offer, the company specialises in intricate and detailed designs, including Aga cookers, the Orient Express, camper vans and jukeboxes.

One claim to fame for the firm is that their teapots are given as the prize on television shows Countdown and Eight Out Of Ten Cats.

Ms Dunn said: “We have all worked together for a long time – I’m the newest member of staff after being here 14 years – but we hope the increased orders will mean we can take on an apprentice.

“It is a skilled job, there are several stages to the process of creating the teapots. Each teapot takes about two and a half weeks to complete because of the many firings needed in the kiln. Ceramic Inspirations is based in Leyburn Business Park.