ONE of the last producers of besoms in the country is enjoying increased sales, thanks to the Harry Potter books and films.

But, while the fictional wizard's new broomsticks are delivered by owl post, the hand-made heather brooms from the workshops of Nicola and Brian Eddon in Farwath, Pickering, reach their audience by more conventional methods.

The couple sell them, along with other traditional crafts, from the tea garden they run from their farm on the North York Moors.

The brooms are made from moorland heather, with handles cut from coppice-grown wood. This traditional technique provides a sustainable supply of materials without harming the environment.

The couple received a Rural Enterprise Scheme grant from Defra to help them develop the business and that grant means a new generator will provide light and power to the tea gardens, and improved lighting in the workshop will enable them to devote more time to making the besoms.

The couple also plan to develop an internet site.

They received another boost when the North York Moors Railway, which runs alongside the farm, was used as a location in the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Mrs Eddon said the grant would enable them to put the business on a far stronger footing and develop new ways of marketing and selling their products.

"The tea gardens are very popular with walkers and tourists, but the income is seasonal and very dependent on the weather," she said. "We've been involved in craftwork for several years, but sales were mainly through local shops and craft fairs.

"A key part of the grant is to enable us to market our products to a far wider audience in terms of retailers and shoppers.

"The Harry Potter stories have been good news for us - lots of children want a traditional witch's broomstick. However a lot of our customers come to us because they want a traditional, natural product."

The tea garden and craftwork provide additional income for the family farm, where the Eddons run a herd of beef suckler cattle.

Sarah Broadwith, rural development adviser for Defra's Rural Development Service said the Rural Enterprise Scheme covered a wide range of community, diversification, and tourism initiatives but was fundamentally about supporting development in rural areas.

"This is an excellent example of how unique personal skills can be used to develop an enterprise, broadening the income streams of a farming business," she said.

"There is plenty of help on hand for farmers thinking about diversifying. The Farm Business Advice Service helped the Eddons put their application and business case together. This service is run by Business Link and entitles all farmers to three days of free advice.