A North Yorkshire mother's idea to celebrate the birth of her baby was such a hit with friends and relatives that she has turned it into a business.

Former York journalist Joanna Leapman, 31, turned photos of her daughter Lara (pictured left with mum) into fridge magnets to give out at her naming party.

People loved them so much she decided to make them for friends' babies and soon the concept snowballed into personalised key rings, badges and cards.

Now Joanna who lived in York and as Joanna Vaughan worked on the Evening Press from 1992 to 1995, has set up her own company, Babymagnets, so that other proud parents can use the novel idea to spread the news about their little ones.

Joanna, a reporter in York and Pickering, was originally from Scarborough. She said: "I started making the magnets in-between night time feeds when Lara was a few weeks old. I never realised that it would turn into a full-time business."

She also juggled nappy changing and weaning with teaching herself web design - and has now set up her own website, www.babymagnets.com with details and pictures.