A FARM business set up in the aftermath of the devastation caused by the foot-and-mouth outbreak has been shortlisted for a national award.

Marcus and Mandy Bainbridge, from Laverock Farm, Eggleston, in Teesdale, County Durham, set up their business, called Colliewobbles, to help make ends meet during the countryside crisis of 2001.

The business has been such a success, turnover is now five times what it was when it started and it has been shortlisted in the 2005 Farmers Weekly Agricultural Awards for the Alternative Enterprise of the Year.

The business is devoted to border collies and sells more than 100 lines of merchandising including clothing, books, videos, stationery, prints, models and dog training classes.

Mrs Bainbridge, who has six border collies, said she began taking glove puppets, cards and backpacks with collie motifs to dog agility shows during the foot-and-mouth crisis.

She said: "The business basically grew from there.

"Basically, we didn't want to give up the farm during foot-and-mouth, the only shows that were working was dog agility classes and we decided to try and use that and sell a few border collie items.

"It's got absolutely massive and people now come to us with things they want to sell so we don't have to source things now."

The business has grown from an initial £21,000 turnover to £100,000 a year and employs three part-time staff.

Now the business is established, Mr Bainbridge intends to build up his sheep stock.

Colliewobbles is online at www.colliewobbles.co.uk