A CHANCE meeting at a city centre hotel has given a Liverpool businesswoman’s jewellery enterprise a major boost.

Alice Hughes, director of Alice In Wonderland Jewellery, was at a Chamber of Commerce networking event at the waterfront Malmaison Hotel when she spotted model, actress and TV personality, Kelly Brook, who was there with the team from Strictly Come Dancing.

Ms Hughes produces jewellery based on the native plants and shells of New Zealand.

She said: “I decided to approach Kelly to show her some samples and my brochure and we got chatting.

“We were getting on really well and I gave her a ring to try on.

“Its design was inspired by honey dew droplets set with a sparkly green peridot stone.

“It fitted her and she really loved it. I told her she could keep it and she said she would show it to all of her friends and told me I was free to mention she was wearing it.”

Ms Hughes now hopes word of her products will spread beyond Merseyside, where her business is already well-established.

She started her business after a trip to New Zealand in 2004 where she was inspired by the natural designs she saw.

She regularly handles commissions to produce jewellery for special occasions. She is currently completing work on a £3,000 diamond engagement ring.