THE couple who created one of Swaledale's best-known cottage industries have announced their retirement.

David Morris and his wife, Grizel, who set up Swaledale Woollens at Muker 30 years ago, retire officially this weekend but will be on hand to help new proprietors, Kenneth and Kathleen Hird, settle in.

Mr Hird is a farmer at nearby Low Row and his wife has worked at the woollens business for ten years.

"We officially retire at the end of August but I'm sure we will be sort of unpaid consultants for quite a while," said Mr Morris.

Existing staff would be unaffected by the changes and he paid tribute to their hard work over the years. He also thanked former manageress Barbara Law, who oversaw the running of the shop for nearly 20 years until illness forced her to give up work last year.

Swaledale Woollens was born following a village meeting to discuss trying to boost the dale's economy by reviving the tradition of Swaledale knitting, practised for more than 400 years.

The fledgling industry used wool from Swaledale sheep and local people offered to knit up the garments. A shop was opened in 1974 as orders began to flood in from all over the world.

"When an order came to knit 125 pairs of gloves for a major Arctic expedition, enthusiasm began to build and the knitting needles were put to work," said Mr Morris.

Other unusual orders over the years included long stockings for an American Indian and wool warmers for the Steppes of Russia.

The business now also uses wool from Wensleydale, Herdwick and Welsh hill sheep alongside the Swaledales.

Like all dales businesses, trade was hit badly by foot-and-mouth last year and Mr Morris expects it to take two or three years to return to normal.

"It is improving this year but not as much as we had hoped," he said. "The Americans are the big spenders but they are not coming in the numbers they usually do. However, things are beginning to pick up again."

He said retirement would allow him to devote more time to his other interests, including membership of Richmond and District Civic Society, writing and local history.

His expertise is also called on by organisers of Muker show, where he will judge fleeces on Wednesday