TWO North Yorkshire mothers have launched a range of children's ready meals after the dishes proved popular at brownie camp.

The recipes, created by Andrea Hayes and Elaine Stephens, from Easingwold, are already being stocked by a supermarket chain.

The Martha and Lawrence range is named after St Martha, the patron saint of cooks, and St Lawrence, the patron saint of chefs.

The two friends decided to market the ready meals after they went down a treat when Mrs Hayes, a brownie brown owl, served them to her pack.

The pair have opened a small factory in Patrick Brompton, near Bedale, with the help of Mrs Hayes' husband Andrew, who has worked for Nestle.

Mrs Stephens, a food scientist, said: "This is a great way to marry my food industry knowledge and science with my mothering experience.

"I feel I am particularly well informed in the product development department and I have the toughest critic - my four-year-old son Ben.

"If he eats it I'm on to a winner."

The first meals in the new range are chicken breast in a tomato and smooth vegetable sauce, cheesy meatballs in a fresh chunky tomato sauce and mild chilli con carne.

The recipes are made using fresh, local produce, wherever it is possible.

Mr Hayes said: "We think that it's reassuring to be able have something to hand which contains the kinds of raw ingredients you would choose to have in your cupboard or fridge.

"All the recipes contain vegetables which count towards the five-a-day requirement, have controlled levels of salt and sugar and do not contain additives."

The meals are being stocked by Booths Supermarkets.