NEXT door neighbours Kerry Burrows and Heather Peet are stepping out on a new career by opening their very own children's designer shoes and dancewear shop.

After developing itchy feet, Kerry took the key decision to ditch her previous job with a computer company to launch the new Mini Me shop which officially opens at The Precinct in Longsight Road, Holcombe Brook, on Saturday.

And the shop will allow her business partner Heather to get back down to earth. She worked as an air hostess before giving up the career to have a child.

Kerry (36), explained: "We are selling upmarket, designer children's shoes. Most of the footwear comes from foreign suppliers, such as Spain, Italy and France, although we do have some British makes.

"We also stock dancewear, everything from ballet through to modern jazz. There are about half a dozen dance schools in this area and previously they had nowhere to go for their stuff."

Both business partners, who have employed two assistants at their shop, underwent ten months of training with the Society of Shoe Fitters from which they have qualified.

Kerry, who has given up her job as project manager with computer firm Fujitsu after 20 years, added: "Heather and I have been next door neighbours and friends for four years. One day on a sunny afternoon we were talking over a glass of wine in the back garden and decided to do something together and set up our own business.

"We looked at a few ventures before deciding on the children's shoe shop when the unit became available."

Getting involved in the retail sector is also a radical departure for Heather (31). For a number of years, she was an air hostess with British Airways before leaving three years ago to have a child.

Members of the public are invited to attend tomorrow's opening and to enjoy refreshments.