Man's 'obsession' became international business

Simon Stevens sells his walking sticks to people all over the world

A man who started whittling wood during the coronavirus lockdown has turned his hobby into an international business.

Simon Stevens, from Chorley, Lancashire, started four years ago after seeing a Facebook post of someone carving a "beautiful walking stick", so decided to see if he could do the same.

Now, he sells his own canes all over the world, with some going for as much as £340.

But he admits that his "obsession" can cause some frustration for his wife, who has to negotiate her way around stacks of drying wood in the family home.

Mr Stevens has turned his garage into a "mini-factory" that is full to the brim with machines, tools and equipment, and a thick layer of sawdust on every surface.

Simon Stevens said he sold his first cane to a work colleague, and the business grew from there

He said despite the disruption, his wife is "so supportive".

"She spends days in fields for agricultural show, or going to events at the NEC that she has not a lot of interest in," he said.

Simon Stevens said some of the canes now sell for up to £340

Mr Stevens sold his first cane to a friend at work, and then started advertising them online.

"And to my shock, just a couple of weeks later, a gentleman in California bought one," he said.

He said he liked the fact that he was selling something that "supports people figuratively and literally", adding they "helped people get through their daily lives".