THEY are cute, cuddly, a part of the family and a friend for life.

Teddy bears are a shoulder to cry on when times are tough; they are a companion for tea parties, picnics and for travelling and, more importantly, they are a toy to love and cherish following their arrival in the family, whether that be by way of a birthday, Valentine's Day gift or to commemorate another special occasion.

Those passionate about their teddies will be familiar with the pearl of wisdom that says we don't choose a bear, a bear chooses us. Some say it's in the eyes and it doesn't matter how old you are - teddy bear owners range from the very young to the more mature. The bears provide companionship for those who can't have pets and even deflated parents suffering from 'empty nest syndrome' have been known to fill their homes with fluffy friends.

Will Morris, who co-founded the Charlie Bear Empire with his wife, Charlie, says his mum is a perfect example of an older teddy bear devote, having begun her collection when Will, his brother Robert and sister Helen left home. "It was a comforting thing from her point of view and that echoes through a lot of our collectors. They have something missing in their lives. A lot of people buy Charlie Bears," says Will.

To put that into perspective, a year after the company's launch in 2005 the couple were selling 200,000 bears a year through 100 stockists and TV shopping channel QVC.

Will explains that the company has since grown year on year and is now turning over £10m, supplying more than 500 stockists in 37 worldwide markets including the UK, Australia and America.

Among their local suppliers are Table Decor in Bradford, Luscombe's in Bingley, Stonegate Teddy Bears and Peter Jones in York.

"We started a company to generate the next generation of bear collectors. We wanted to create this innovative hobby for children to get involved in but the majority of our audience is 40-plus. A lot of people have got something missing from their lives. Children have gone off to university," says Will.

The business developed through Charlie's love of teddy bears. "I've always been dotty about bears. I was never a doll girl," says Charlie, who once bought a teddy she spotted in a charity shop window because she couldn't bear to leave it.

Birthdays and Christmases would bring another addition to her fluffy family, but the idea to start a business came after illness halted her ambition to become a ballerina and she started selling teddy bears in shops around Horsforth and Leeds.

Incidentally, teddy bears brought Charlie and Will together in 2000. Will recalls that his mum was ill in hospital and he had popped by Charlie's shop to buy a bear to add to his mum's collection. "And there was Charlie. I went back to buy another and by the end of the week I plucked up the courage to ask her out on a date," recalls Will.

Two years later they married and in 2005 their teddy bear empire was born. Will says the reason they decided to set up Charlie Bears was because Charlie noticed that many customers would fall in love with a teddy bear but couldn't afford to buy one.

At the time the couple were living in Baildon and decided to invest everything they had into the business. "I said it would be a hobby for you (Charlie) and if it does well I will join you," says Will, who eventually gave up a well in logistics to develop what has become very much a family business, involving Will's siblings and Charlotte's sister.

Attending teddy bear shows and inspired by trends in fashion and interior design, Charlie worked alongside bear artists from around the world to create her exquisite, yet affordable, range including the limited edition Isabelle Collection and the 'wobble-jointed' hand-finished plush bears the couple are renowned for.

Around half a million bears are produced every year. There are between 140 and 150 different styles ranging from the smaller baby safe bear to collectables. Prices range from £15 to £450 for the exclusive bears created from luxurious textiles such as mohair and alpaca.

Each bear is hand finished with attention to detail and each bear face is different, giving them individual character and personality.

To ensure their bears remain collectable, Will and Charlie only create 2,000 to 3,000 of each character. After that the bear range is 'retired'. And to give the collection a more personal touch, the couple keep a list of names in a special book which Charlie consults before naming each new bear. The names are suggested by Charlie Bear fans, often inspired by the names of loved ones or pets, and each bear design is inspired by its namesake.

Collectors and fans take the company to heart, often sending in photographs of bears on picnics, beaches and other exciting adventures.

Now based in Cornwall, Charlie and Will's home is the official home of Charlie Bear HQ and the main distribution facility for the whole of Europe and America.

"A lot of my job is going overseas and whenever I go away Charlie always puts one of the little bears into my suitcase and sprays some of her perfume on it," says Will.

Charlie says the little teddy she puts in Will's case gave her the inspiration to create the Travel Buddy - a loveable travelling companion which can be spritzed with perfume or aftershave as a reminder of a loved one. "I think there is something nice about knowing you're not travelling on your own." says Charlie.

Combining a pastime she is so passionate about with a profession is a dream come true for Charlie. "It doesn't feel like a job. I feel like I am the luckiest person on the planet because I am doing something I absolutely love but it doesn't feel like work," says Charlie. "Even when I am launching a new collection or busy designing I still get excited when they all turn up.

"I am 43 - you would have thought I would have grown out of this by now!" she laughs.

She says she hopes her and Will's legacy will be to pass teddy bear collecting on to the next generation. They are already helping to bring people together through their Facebook site.

Charlie can't bear to think of anyone not owning a teddy bear. "Because I feel like they are missing out and I don't want anybody to miss out," she says.

For more information visit charliebears.com