Ann Prior was visiting her sister in Canada when she saw how popular the craft of scrapbooking had become across the Atlantic.

In America, scrapbooking – a method of creating attractive displays of photographs and text – is a multi-billion dollar industry and it's winning over an army of fans in this country.

Mrs Prior, from East Boldon, was inspired and has now launched an online business, The Scrap Book Garden, selling a wide and varied selection of materials needed for the craft.

She said: "I enjoyed my work with the health service but after years of doing the same thing, I really wanted to do something different.

"At first, I launched a card making and scrapbooking business with my sister, which was a combination of a website and a shop in the Midlands, before I decided to branch out on my own."

The former administration worker has also started classes in scrapbooking through Adult and Community Learning.

She said: "The response from the students has been amazing – sometimes they start off with a bit of scepticism and end up being completely hooked.

"Often people associate scrapbooking with being a child and sticking bits and pieces into a book, but it's nothing like that – it's about putting photographs together in an artistic and creative way and it's very relaxing and therapeutic.

"The end result is a beautiful scrapbook that can be handed down through future generations – in effect, a family heirloom.

"I really would like to build the business and start to do home-based parties and demonstrations as it's great to see people's individual creativity coming through."

Mrs Prior was guided into business with the help of Nicky Gray, a UCanB champion from South Tyneside's business enterprise agency Tedco.

She said: "Ann clearly spotted a business opportunity while travelling and is ahead of the game in a hobby that is enjoying a boom in this country."

Mrs Prior can be contacted on 536 2538. Alternatively, her website can be found here.