A BRA-fitting specialist has been named as one of the UK's Top ten female-owned businesses.

Sadie Ayton, who set up Sadie the Bra Lady in Consett 13 years ago, is just one step away from scooping the T-Mobile Woman Mean Business Award of £10,000 after winning a place in the national final. While running a fashion shop in the 1970s, Sadie noticed badly fitting undergarments were spoiling the effect of her customers' clothing.

She devised her own unique fitting guide and began stocking bras in the boutique. Then she decided to focus solely on bra fitting and lingerie sales and Sadie the Bra Lady was launched in 1990.

She has since opened two new shops in Sunderland and Ashington and is working at her first pilot franchise scheme in Darlington.