WHILE many workers are put on furlough or find themselves out of work one Oxford mum has put the extra time to good use, and has launched a mosaic business.

Sophie Smith, who lives near Shotover Park just outside Oxford, has worked for international aid organisation Oxfam for 25 years.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic she, like many others, was placed on furlough from her job.

She used that time, however, to launch her own mosaic business, a craft she started when her children left home.

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Her daughter Stephanie said: "She's not a trained mosaicist, or artist.

"She's spent her life working in humanitarian aid. But I think we all knew that, deep down, art was a passion.

"She's incredibly nervous and tentative, but we've helped her to start an Etsy shop for her smaller pieces, and she's been accepted onto a diploma course at the London School of Mosaics.

"She makes the most beautiful house signs, mirrors, drink coasters."

Her Etsy shop is called OxfordMosaics.