A WORCESTER family who fell in love with a sanctuary of elephants are aiming to improve the lives of their keepers back in Thailand by selling their hand-made goods in their new furnishings and design shop.

Worcester GP Dr Felix Blaine, his wife Sarah, and children Joe, aged 10, and eight-year-old Natasha spent a week living with the elephants at the ‘Bles’ sanctuary in northern Thailand, while on holiday in 2009.

The Blaines – who live near Pershore – were so impressed by the furniture and fabrics made by the people in the villages around the area that they began to explore the possibility of importing them to England.

Mrs Blaine, an interior designer, said: “It’s so difficult for the people in these remote villages to make any money.

“But the things they make are all hand-crafted and of such amazing quality.

“We were looking at the fine silks and the embroided bags they were selling, and it was just obvious that you can’t get anything like that over here.

"The silk had all been hand-woven on looms in the villages.”

The family returned to Thailand this summer, and this time came home with an array of wares and materials purchased directly from the elephant keepers – known as Mahouts – and other village artisans from across the northern part of Thailand.

Their new gifts and interiors shop, called Mahouts, is due to open tomorrow in Pershore High Street, and the hand-crafted goods will be among the items on sale.

Dr Blaine said: “With some of the smaller gifts we’re selling, we will be giving all of the profits to the charity that runs the elephant sanctuary – when you spend time with these elephants, you realise what amazing animals they are and how much care and attention they need.

“We really want to raise awareness of the charity and the work they do, and to give something back to that community as well.”

Mrs Blaine said: “Everything else we sell from Thailand has been bought directly from the people who made them.

"It is generally families living in remote areas, and this way we can make sure they get a fair price for their goods.

“They are real artisans and they deserve a market for their products.

“We’d also like to think we’re bucking the economic trend a little bit by opening a new independent shop at what is obviously a difficult time for businesses on the high street.”