A RURAL business which began as an idea on a kitchen table is about to have an impact on one of the region's major redevelopments.

Ribble Valley candle company Melt has been approached by international property business Grosvenor - the firm behind Liverpool ONE - to produce a corporate gift to commemorate the unveiling of the first phase of the project.

Melt was founded by Cheryl Hook nine years ago and is now based at Backridge Farm, Waddington, a rural business hub that is home to more than 20 companies.

And the success of Melt coincides with the publication of a report by the Commission for Rural Communities which reveals that more needs to be done to promote rural businesses.

Liverpool ONE is a £1billion shopping, residential and leisure development in the city centre.

Cheryl said: "Manufacturing out of converted barns on a working farm just outside of Waddington, our roots are firmly set in the north west from where we supply Melt candles to many stockists throughout the UK and Europe, but particularly across Liverpool and Merseyside.

"This is why we were proud to be asked to work with Liverpool ONE to create a corporate gift for this event - and they were especially keen to keep some of the Melt branding alongside their own which is a fantastic opportunity for a small, company such as ours."

Backridge Farm is a former dairy farm run by Richard Drinkall who converted many of the buildings in to space for businesses after the foot and mouth crisis of 2001.

Cheryl, who lives in Waddington, added: "All Melt candles are manufactured at Backridge Farm which is starting to thrive as a farm diversification site.

"That diversification has now led to the opening of some 20 businesses - most of which are open to the public - which in turn has allowed Backridge to continue as a working farm."

But while Backridge is an example of what can be achieved in rural areas, the author of the CRC report, Dr Stuart Burgess claims there is unfulfilled potential of up to £347billion a year in rural areas.

In order to tap in to this resource, the report proposes initiatives such as the creation of a rural finance forum, a rural innovation initiative, and a new compact between government, insurance and rural industries to improve response to shocks caused by disease and bad weather and develop new insurance products.