REDDITCH-based jewellery-maker, Victoria Brown, is experiencing an unexpected boost to business from an unexpected quarter - she is getting requests for jewellery to celebrate sugar anniversaries.

Traditionally, a six-year wedding anniversary is symbolised by sugar but beyond buying sweets, there are not many gift options, as Ms Brown has discovered.

She said: "I've had an increasing number of orders from men, in particular, who want buy sugar wedding anniversary presents for their wives. I've had orders from all over the place, including London, Glasgow and even one from Finland.

"People seem to love the fact that the can buy a gift from me that will last for years to come.

"It's taken me a bit by surprise, to be honest, as I hadn't even realised that the sixth anniversary was sugar, until I started getting all these orders but it's so lovely when people come to me with an order for a special occasion - you feel like you're part of their big day, especially when people come to me asking for special commissions.”

Ms Brown had been making jewellery from beads and silver for some time and decided to try something different, so she experimented with sugar set in resin.

She explained: “I loved it straight away as the sugar can come in lots of bright colours and, as it's set in resin inside the silver, it will last forever. Because people seem to love the sweet theme so much, I even package the jewellery up in little stripey sweetie bags.

“I'm so pleased that the business is taking off and I'm hoping to get my products stocked in shops, in addition to selling from my website and craft fairs, so that I can bring them to a wider audience."

Spun Sugar Jewellery was set up in 2011.