Today she has more than 18,000 soft toys - "bears and friends" - housed in what is probably the biggest teddy bear shop in the country. As well as World of Bears in the county town, she also runs The Gorge Bear Company in Cheddar. "I had the idea to sell some soft toys, and it just escalated from there. "In 2012 we moved our Cheddar shop to Lakeside View. "I employ a total of five people full- and part-time over both shops and there are more than 18,000 bears and soft toys overall."