PALS Christine Fox and Glenice Stirzaker are Bolton's very own soap stars.

Getting into a lather is all in a day's work for the two busy mums who have developed their soap-making hobby into a business.

Now they sell their products at local craft fairs and pride themselves on using natural ingredients and essential oils.

This weekend they will help one of the biggest annual craft fairs in the area celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Both women work in accounts, for different companies, and although they sell their products under the business name Stirzaker and Fox Soapmakers, they still see it as a pastime.

Christine, who lives in Horwich with her two daughters, said they started out by buying books about soap-making, made a few bars, and enjoyed it.

They started to make more, for friends and family, and further developed the products.

Christine tends to make the novelty fun soaps. Glenice, working from her home in Breightmet, uses her knowledge of aromatherapy to make soaps containing pure essential oils for specific skin types.

Christine said: "We tend to make soaps that interest us. It's still a hobby for us really."

The women like to think of their products as "luxury" soaps. They range in price from 80p to £2, depending on the cost of the ingredients involved in the process.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the products can catch up with Christine and Glenice at the Rivington and Blackrod High School craft fair in Horwich tomorrow and Sunday from 11am to 5pm in the upper school in Rivington Lane.