WHILE receiving treatment for breast cancer, the only thing that gave Julie Argyle some comfort was a bath bomb.

So when she ran out, a friend suggested she made some herself.

And with that Julie started Hele Bay Soap Company, creating a range of handmade soaps, luxurious bath products and other bathroom accessories on sale at Banbury's and through helebaysoap.co.uk.

Earlier this month Julie appeared in a one-hour segment on Create and Craft Shopping TV, one of the Ideal World family of shopping channels.

She sold out all her soap kits and half her bath bombs plus some raw ingredients from the Soap Kitchen in Torrington.

The session was such a success that Create and Craft want Julie back within a month.

Julie, who got the idea after watching the channel, said: "It's taken nine months from the initial enquiry to get on air, but it went really well.

"I noticed similarities between soap making and papercrafts and so got in touch. Create and Craft favours smaller producers and I went for a screen test in October. Because I was so absorbed in what I was doing I forgot the camera was there. Although I was nervous before, when I got there on Saturday I had two hours to prepare and it all came together so I really enjoyed it."

Further exposure was provided recently when Selfridge's purchased a supply of cupcake soaps for its Alice in Wonderland display.

Julie enjoys the people contact generated by running Hele Bay Soaps and likes having a barrow in Green Lanes in Barnstaple.

She said: "In February lots of people stopped to say they had been given my soap for Christmas and that it was lovely."

The Hele Bay Soap Company range includes a variety of fragranced and shaped soaps, bath bombs, bath salts, shower gels, kids' products, wedding favours and other products, lip balms and accessories.

All product recipes are certified by a chemist, who approves them in accordance with EU legislation. They are also labelled with a list of ingredients, batch number and contact details.

As a product manufacturer, the company holds material safety data sheets, allergen information and maintains records in accordance with appropriate EU regulations.

As Julie is against animal testing, none of the range contains any animal products and most are suitable for vegans with the small exception of those containing beeswax.

She is also committed to using the best ingredients and to recycling and reusing materials wherever possible.

Julie enjoys doing new things and likes making bespoke products for people when they ask for a soap in a specific fragrance.

She is looking forward to more barrow sales in Green Lanes and is currently formulating a charity project to raise funds to enhance hospital waiting rooms.

She is also seeking agents to host Hele Bay Soap Company parties and sell its range to a wider client base.

● For details call 07932 421821 or visit helebaysoap.co.uk