After school she studied equine science at Bishop Burton Agricultural College, East Yorkshire, following her passion for horses.

Her ambitions were crushed when she broke her back in an accident making it impossible to follow a career with animals.

But she was determined not to let the injury hold her back and to turn it to her advantage.

"At the time I was working at Lush cosmetics training in retail sales," she said.

"I enjoyed it but wanted to run my own business."

Supported by partner, Nick Ives, she decided her ambition would be to run a luxury lingerie shop and started looking for premises in Leeds.

Unable to find the right location, Sarah,
who lives at Rishworth, finished at Lush and researched her chosen market before opting instead to start an on-line business.

"Ideally I would still like a shop, but I couldn't find the right premises so after thinking it through opted to start Elizabeth Wells lingerie online," she said.

Sarah is happy to sell on approval or go to clients' homes, but a major part of her business is to men.

"Many are embarrassed at buying lingerie in a shop.

"But the beauty of my online shop is that they can look at their leisure, check out sizes and if they are in doubt ring me for advice and still make a surprise purchase," she said.

To ensure her business is unique Sarah sells many ranges that are only available to selected outlets and offers a gift wrap service.

"I would still like a high street shop, but in the meantime Elizabeth Wells is going from strength to strength," she said.