A HANDY supply of sheep's wool, some vivid imagination and a knowledge of history led to an Eden woman winning a small business award, reports Jon Taylor.

Christine Armstrong of Soulby, near Kirkby Stephen, picked up the title of Country Living magazine's 'Enterprising Rural Women Award' in the small business category.

Mrs Armstrong runs Second Nature UK Ltd and produces 'Thermafleece', which she describes as "a revolutionary insulation material incorpor-ating sheep's wool".

Thermafleece is marketed for use in building insulation work.

Mrs Armstrong started the company in 1999 when she realised that the largely unwanted wool from British sheep could be used to make environmentally friendly and superbly efficient building insulation.

"I like the idea of doing something with wool as a natural product.

I knew that in the 18th century people used sheep's wool for insulation so I began looking into whether you could use it now."

She took her idea to Leeds University and, after a couple of year's research, managed to get the product to market.

Mrs Armstrong received her award at the Country Living spring fair in London.