IT'S more than just another shaggy dog story - it's Hampshire's very own spin dogter.

Samantha Dearman never has to worry about buying winter warmers - she makes her own from the hair shed by her two Keeshond dogs.

Now her hairy designer wear has got tongue's wagging.

From hats and scarves to jackets and cardigans - if it can be knitted, then Ms Dearman can make it from dog hair.

"It's so labour intensive and takes so long to make an item," said Ms Dearman.

"You can only spin from long-coated breeds of dogs or those with double coats - not corgis or golden retrievers.

"Anything that can be knitted you can make from dog hair and it gets fluffier with time.

"At dog shows people keep bumping into me and giving me bags of hair they have collected."

Ms Dearman, 50, from Sholing, Southampton, has turned her hobby of three years into a business after contacting the Southampton branch of InBiz, which helps people move from unemployment into self-employment.

The mother of one, who also owns a golden retriever and a German spit, now runs her own company called The Spin Dogter.

Ms Dearman, who is a member of the Southampton and District Canine Association, spins the dog hair on a normal spinning wheel but has to make sure she separates out the different colours first.

"I've had a lot of interest," she said.

"They moult twice a year and if you give them a bath and then groom them that is the best way of collecting the loose hair. We recycle most things so why not dog hair.

"I've been given some Samoyed hair to work on, which is very luxurious.

"It's been difficult working out all the tax implications but I've had help from my business adviser."

To find out more about The Spin Dogter contact Samantha on 07818 082193.