DESIGNER Ingrid Sylvestre found a subject she could really get her teeth into when Nigel McMinn won his wife an opportunity to appear in a series of children's books.

Ms Sylvestre, renowned for her giraffe paintings and cards, based her latest character on dentist Elaine McMinn.

After finding out about Mrs McMinn's personality and job, the Durham designer developed her creation, Minnty McShyne.

The shy but glamorous Minnty works at Neckelchester Dental Practice, where she offers tongue-cleaning to music sessions and sells high altitude toothpaste to her patients.

Mr McMinn, a regional director with Sunderland motor retailer Reg Vardy, will also appear in the books, which Ms Sylvestre is writing and illustrating, as Marque McShyne, boss of McShyne Motors.

Mr McMinn won the chance to be in fiction by bidding the highest amount for the lot at the Entrepreneurs Forum charity ball earlier this year.

"Elaine is tall and my dad has always called her Swanny because of her long neck. When I saw the chance to be a giraffe I thought it was really unique and something you couldn't buy," he said.

Ms Sylvestre has created a lifestyle for Minnty, based on Mrs McMinn, which includes shopping for clothes, going to the cinema and going to the gym, where her fitness plan includes exercises to prevent her neck getting stiff from leaning over patients.

Mrs McMinn said: "I love it, especially as you would never normally get the opportunity to be a character in books."

The Entrepreneurs Forum Hurray for Hollywood charity ball, held at the Gateshead Hilton in September, raised £57,000 for the Percy Hedley Foundation for young people with learning difficulties and physical disabilities.