An enterprising couple have hit upon a business venture they hope will have a fairy tale ending.

Dean and Angela Buick, of Durham, have launched The Enchantment Factory, offering home and corporate visits by costumed characters and also themed events.

They will slip into any of a number of characters, from Mr and Mrs Santa Claus to chimney sweeps, bringing good luck to weddings and other special occasions, as well as swashbuckling pirates, giving children a party with a difference.

"We also appear as King Dean and Queen Angela, a medieval Australian monarch and his Northumbrian bride, to add a touch of colour at corporate and charity events," said Mrs Buick, 37, a former catering lecturer.

The business took shape after the couple, both 33, began working as Santa and Mrs Claus at a North-East shopping centre after returning to England following three years in Australia, where Mr Buick was born. They were so good as Mr and Mrs Claus, they were asked to train other Santas.

They then hit upon the idea of taking the Christmas characters into people's homes and, in order to keep themselves busy all-year-round, invented the chimney sweeps and other characters.

The Enchantment Factory was one of ten business ideas chosen from hundreds for Enterprise Island, a regional initiative supported by One NorthEast and Business Link, designed to encourage and support entrepreneurship.

Their business mentor was Jeff Fitzpatrick, of Walker Hall Associates, who helped them to "put our souls" into the business plan for The Enchantment Factory.

The couple, who have two children, have spent their careers in the hospitality and entertainment industry. In Australia, they ran a catering consultancy.

The Enchantment Factory can be contacted on 0191- 378 4441.