WHEN an ambitious firm was looking for a model to spearhead its nationwide advertising campaign, the search ended following a visit to the nearby tea rooms, reports Ellis Butcher.

Christine Thornburrow, who runs The Linen Press in Kirkby Stephen, decided Sarah Jones who serves tea and cakes at the Mulberry Bush, was the ideal look she sought.

Sarah, 33, with strawberry blonde hair and natural English rose looks, is now a central feature of the mail order company's 2003 brochure, of which 60,000 copies have been circulated.

And the firm has gone one step further to champion the area by having virtually all the photographs taken at beauty spots in and around Kirkby Stephen, as well as dedicating a special mention to the town in its glossy catalogue.

Sarah, of Kirkby Stephen, had never modelled before but left her pinny behind at the family-run tea room and gift shop to attend the two-day photo shoot with eight-year-old daughter Lily, who is also featured.

The Linen Press, which operates from Mitre House, was set up in 1999, and relies on the brochure to illustrate its ranges of bed linen and linen clothing which it brings from Italy, France and Portugal, to sell to UK customers.

Now other magazines have been impressed and plan to feature the photographs in summer editions of Country Living and Good Housekeeping.

Sarah was called a "natural" to modelling but revealed: "I was terrified but flattered she had asked me. I had no make up on and nobody did my hair. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's far more glamorous than baking cakes!"

Others to make it into the brochure, include Mrs Thornburrow's nieces, her cherished dog, Betty, and her cousin's horse.

General manager of the Linen Press, Leeselle Wren explained: "Christine knew of Sarah because she likes to go for lunch at the Mulberry Bush.

"She was thinking about the brochure and then saw Sarah and thought she would be a very good model for our clothes."

With the emphasis on a natural look because the firm's products are made from natural fibres, it was decided to incorporate a natural setting such as the nearby river and countryside.

Mrs Wren said the brochure was the firm's equivalent to a shop window and had attracted positive feedback because of the quality of the photographs.

May 15, 2003 10:30