EAST Cleveland is probably best known for its rich heritage of ironstone mining. But if Ian Coles has his way then the area could soon be known for wines not mines.

The 49-year-old builder started making wine as a hobby at his home in Grove Road, Skinningrove, after returning to the North-East from London in 1998.

Initially the tipple was just for friends and family but news of his wine-making prowess soon spread.

Yesterday, Mr Coles was given council permission to convert his outhouse and cellar into a winery making 80 litres per week.

He hopes to sell his organic wines at local produce markets, farmers' markets, craft fairs and summer shows.

Mr Coles has made 40 different types of wine, including nettle, orange, elderflower and grapefruit.

He has done extensive research by talking to would-be customers at farmers' markets before taking the plunge into commercial production.

Mr Coles said: "I started making wine because there are so many things that grow round here, and I just happened to have a big cellar.

"I read lots of books on winery procedures and took the best bits, and realised that I was rather good at it.

"Most of the wine I make comes from plants found in the area.

"There are sloes, elderberries, dandelions and nettles growing wild around here and I have gooseberries and lemon balm in my garden and a friend who has rhubarb and cowslip.

"Depending on what I use, the wines take between six months and two years to make.

"I don't use any chemicals in the process so they are mainly organic.

"I've been giving it away to people and they seem to like it. I'm delighted with the result."

Britain has a thriving wine growing industry. According to a spokesman for the English-wine.com website: "It may fairly be said to be one of the best-kept secrets of these islands."

However, the region's wine growers still have some way to go before they rival east Cleveland's ironstone producers.

At its height at the end of the 19th Century, the industry supported 80 mines with an annual production of nearly seven million tons.