AS the country sweltered in the recent heatwave, farmers Nicola and Brian Eddon found a cool way of expanding.

The couple, who farm near Pickering, on the North York Moors, have already diversified by setting up Farwath Tea Garden and Crafts at their home.

But now they are also selling ice cream and lollipops for the first time, after help and advice from Business Link York and North Yorkshire.

Farm advisor Pat Lane provided the assistance they needed to successfully apply for a Rural Enterprise Scheme grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The storage and selling of ice cream and other cool refreshments has been made possible after the Eddons used the grant to upgrade their generator and purchase fridge freezers.

The tea garden was badly affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis, but with walkers returning to the countryside, the Eddons say business is booming once more.

Mrs Eddon said: "Selling ice cream and lollipops has boosted our business tremendously. Our tea garden is not signposted, but we have many regulars - walkers, horse-riders and families who are buying our ice cream by the bucket load.

"The grant has also made our business a lot more economical because there is no waste now, with the fridge freezer.

"I can bake and freeze the stuff we don't use, which we couldn't do before. We always have enough on offer for our customers."

Mr Lane added: "This is just one example of the way in which Business Link helps farmers to tap in to opportunities for diversification."

* For more information on the help and advice services provided by Business Link York and North Yorkshire, contact the Information Centre on (01904) 686000 or visit the website, www.here4business.co.uk