A WOMAN who turned her online hobby into a high street shop hopes her new business will come up smelling of roses.

Helen Pennington opened Cosmetix 4 U, in Spennymoor, after a year of selling make-up and bath and body products on the internet.

The 26-year-old started buying cosmetics wholesale and selling them via retail websites after losing her part-time job.

She said: "I was at Bishop Auckland College, studying health and social care, as well as working in telesales, but I lost that job when the company went bust.

"I started selling cosmetics to fill in time and earn a bit of money after that and it did well. I thought there was a market for it, so started selling at fairs, shows and parties.

"A shop was the next step and I really hope it can work in Spennymoor, because this is where I live."

Last Friday, Miss Pennington opened the shop in a unit below Spennymoor Town Hall.

After moving in, she found out her late grandmother, Edna Pennington, had worked in the same unit during the Sixties and Seventies, when it was a baby clothing shop.

Cosmetix 4 U has products priced from £1.25 upwards, gift baskets can be made to order and budget and there are opening offers this week.

The shop is open from 9am to 5am on Monday to Saturday, except Wednesdays, when it opens from 9am to 1pm.

The Northern Echo's Shopping for a Future campaign aims to support Spennymoor traders and encourage residents to shop locally.