Designer Sarah Ashton has decided to move her Thimbelina dressmaking business 100 yards down the road in Walmgate, York - as a birthday present to herself.

Sarah, who was a finalist in the Business Personality and Young Entrepreneur of the Year categories in last year's Evening Press Business Awards, said: "We got too busy and desperately needed to expand into bigger premises. Where our old base had just one floor, our new home will have three and it has a nice back yard."

The move from number 29a to number 73 Walmgate means that Sarah will be able to recruit a third member of staff and take on more design and dressmaking work, particularly when the wedding season traditionally begins in March.

"We get really busy in May, but somehow we seem to be working at full blast all year round," she said.

The timing was perfect because the lease on her old premises ends on her 25th birthday, March 25.

She said: "We are refurbishing the new premises in time for a move on that date when I shall sing happy birthday to myself. It also marks three years since I took over the business. Every year it has got better."

Updated: 11:12 Wednesday, February 01, 2006