AN underwear company has reported a big increase in sales of its thermal garments as a result of the recent freezing weather.

Bella di Notte, in Helmsley, in the North York Moors National Park, has seen a rush of orders from people keen to stay warm.

In the past ten days, the business has seen orders for thermals reach £10,000 daily – double what bosses expected.

In one 24-hour period, takings hit an all-time high of £20,000.

Susan Johnson, Bella di Notte founder, said: “This is demand like we’ve never seen before and we thought we might have to ration orders.

“Fortunately, our Italian suppliers have agreed to forego their traditional long New Year break and have come back to work early to get more thermals to us.

“A surprise one morning was when we arrived to open the office to find a small queue of local lady farmers waiting for us in their wellies.

“Having seen the snowfall, they were here first thing. They bought and then put on their thermals here, before going back to work.”

Bella di Notte is offering an emergency same-day hand-delivery service within ten miles of its base in Helmsley. For more information, go to belladinotte.com