BEAUTY and the beast may be an unlikely partnership, but it's one that's proved a hit with DEFRA.

Chris and Clare French rear a 100 head of cattle and 60 mules at their home, Sunnybank Farm at Mewith, near Bentham.

Thanks to the grant from DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Clare has realised an ambition of setting up her own beauty treatment business in a former farm workshop.

The building has been converted into a holiday cottage, beauty salon and workshop for patchwork and embroidery.

The unique diversification scheme qualified for the 40 per cent grant which transformed the building into a salon, studio and holiday cottage.

Dr Stephen Chaplin, of DEFRA, said: "The Rural Enterprise Scheme is about encouraging diversification of rural economies. Usually these are self-catering or B&B schemes, open farms or farmers' markets.

"We like to see something that's a bit different. Self-catering can be a problem especially where there already is a lot of provision in the area. Skills and expertise makes a huge difference to viability.

"We were delighted to approve this grant for such an unusual farm-based business.

"We try to encourage potential applicants to be innovative in their thinking and planning - and I think the results here speak for themselves."

The idea came out of a chance conversation between Clare and her friend, handicraft expert Lynne Keir.

"It was time to start looking at diversification. Lynne was saying she would love to find somewhere to run patchwork classes and we joked that she could do it from here," recalls Chris.

The farm, which has been in his family for generations, stopped producing milk three years ago and now rears young stock.

Chris said: "We came out of dairy because we saw the way farming was going and our lads weren't interested. I didn't see the point in spending huge amounts for me to work more hours. Farming has to be treated as a business, you can't afford to have it as a labour of love.

"Clare and I both knew that we needed to think about extra sources of income after the BSE and foot and mouth crises.

"In many ways we felt ready for a new challenge. We're both committed to the land and our family has farmed here for several generations, so we sat down and thought carefully about what our interests were and what would suit us best. I thought the cottage, salon and patchwork classes were a great idea."

The handicraft classes are held twice a week from September to March while Clare offers a range of skin care, make up advice and colour analysis.

In the summer the cottage will be let to holidaymakers and Clare will use a treatment room in her own home to continue her sessions.

Clare, who has five children and six grandchildren, said: "I get up and think, 'I'm in business!' It's a dream that's materialised at last.

"In isolated areas it's nice to have something that brings people together. I've always been interested in clothes and grooming so that's when everything started to come together.

"I've been delighted and excited by what the grant money has enabled me to do. The farm is set in the most beautiful landscape and is a particularly tranquil place to come and learn new skills.

"I've already run a couple of trial sessions and there has been a tremendous amount of interest and enthusiasm in what I'm doing."

DEFRA has been allocated £152 million of European and Government cash to help boost the rural economy.

The aim is to protect and improve the countryside, develop sustainable enterprises and to help rural communities to thrive.