A LOCAL seamstress is growing her Newton Aycliffe firm on the back of a UK cheerleading craze.

Cheerleading coach Chele Connell launched Cheer Creations in 2002 after making the uniforms for her team, Newton Aycliffe Cougars, and receiving requests to make outfits for other clubs.

Initially she earned a modest income by working from home, but in recent months the business has leapt skywards, with new orders generating £65,000 since the beginning of January.

Chele, who is hoping to hit annual turnover of £200,000 this year, has taken on seven new staff including three seamstresses and moved into premises on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate.

Now she’s readying herself for more work on the back of a boom which has spawned more than 700 cheerleading clubs in Britain.

She says: “Most (UK) schools now have a cheerleading club. But it’s now become a sport for adults as much as for children.”

Cheer Creations also makes competition dresses, skating costumes and gymnastic leotards but generates the bulk of its revenues from cheerleading uniforms.

The company, which makes all of its products locally, has received provisional approval for an £8,000 grant from Sedgefield Borough-based enterprise agency SASDA to fund future expansion.