HOME-BASED knitters are needed to help revive Richmond's traditional wool industry.

Ethical clothing label Izzy Lane, launched by Richmond businesswoman Isobel Davies, hopes to recruit skilled craft workers for its knitwear collection.

During the 1800s, much of the town's wealth came from an army of knitters who produced hats and clothing for Britain's naval forces.

As Izzy Lane heads towards the launch of its inaugural collection, Miss Davies hopes to revive the town's passion for knitting.

She said: "With interest in Izzy Lane growing at a phenomenal rate, we need to recruit talented machine and hand knitters who can work on some of our knitwear collection.

"Many of Richmond's finest buildings were built from the wealth generated by the town's knitting economy. Indeed, one of the first brick buildings in the town, The Grove at the bottom of Frenchgate, was built from 'wool money'.

"With such a strong heritage, I hope we can once again inject into the local economy."

Izzy Lane started when Miss Davies, founder and managing director of Farmaround Organic, a produce home delivery company based on the Gallowfields Trading Estate in Richmond, began to rescue rare-breed sheep from slaughter.

She has so far saved almost 300 Wensleydale and Shetland sheep, with another 100 due to arrive over the coming weeks.

The sheep will live out their natural lives at her sheep sanctuary on the edge of Richmond and their wool goes towards the Izzy Lane collection, due to be launched this autumn.

Miss Davies also sought out traditional spinners, weavers, dyers and other crafts people from across the UK for the manufacturing processes.

Miss Davies said there had been great interest in the clothing. "One lady from Northern Ireland recently rang to say she would once again wear wool, having refused to wear knitwear for almost 20 years for ethical reasons," she said.

Anyone interested in working as a knitter for Izzy Lane should contact Miss Davies through www.izzylane.co.uk.