A PAIR of mums think they have found the solution to balancing an ethical household with a busy life.

Kristin Smith and Ruth Lezard, both from near Berkeley, have launched a new internet-based company called Happy Household.

It delivers ethically and organically sourced groceries and household products to people's homes.

Mrs Lezard said: "One evening over a glass of wine we were chatting about how we both love getting our weekly veg box delivered and wouldn't it be great if we could get the rest of our weekly shop the same way.

"It's good to shop in small independent stores and support the farmers' markets but they can be impractical when you work and have a busy family life."

Happy Household offers a range of products from paste, cooking sauces and flour to nappies, washing up liquid and toilet paper. All the products are either locally or ethically sourced and most are organic.

The company is run from Mrs Smith's family home in Halmore, near Berkeley, where the two women collate and pack orders ready for delivery.

At the moment Happy Household has two delivery times a week and covers Berkeley, Slimbridge, Cam and Dursley, with the two mums doing the free deliveries themselves.

Mrs Smith said: "That way we get to meet our customers. We want to be small and local and friendly."

Mrs Lezard said: "Meeting and talking with our customers will also mean we will be able to tailor the products we offer to meet people's needs.

"I don't think we are going to take on Tesco, but there are enough like-minded people out there to make Happy Household work.

"The experience of setting up a business has been great, we've both learnt new skills and had a lot of fun and we're still talking so we must be doing something right."

To find our more about Happy Household visit www.happyhousehold.co.uk.