A lack of inspiring children's clothes and accessories and a baby who wouldn't sleep led Claire Kearney from Woodstock to start her own business.

With a varied working background, including jobs as a tea taster and an oil buyer, Claire, 41, of Manor Road, Woodstock, was well placed to form her own company.

She was inspired by designs for children's sleeping bags she saw while visiting friends in Rotterdam.

Claire Kearney with some Kuddlekit products

When her sister's child was having trouble getting to sleep, Claire recommended a sleeping bag. Because they were not easily available in the UK, she decided to launch Kuddlekit.

Her flagship product is the sleeping bag, but Claire is planning to launch new products next April.

A mother of two small children, Claire also works for Oxford University Press.

She said: "There is a real lack of lovely things for babies and children here. Abroad there are some fabulous designs and products available."

The sleeping bags are made in South Africa by Claire's mother-in-law, a textile lecturer. They have been such a success so far that a skiing company has agreed to take some of Claire's products and sell them at its resorts.

She has her own website www.kuddlekit.com