Twelve years ago, Robin Webb started making shoes from old car tyres and salvaged canvas. Now the business is selling to customers across the world.

The shoes were an instant hit and he soon opened a shop which he outgrew in a couple of years.

From a bigger shop in Gardner Street, Brighton, he started a mail order service and now sells the shoes online.

Vegetarian Shoes has now been awarded the title of Best Non-Food Product at the annual Vegetarian Society Awards.

Mr Webb said: "When I started the business, I made all the shoes by hand. Originally I made only one style, a basic lace-up shoe.

"I taught myself to make shoes four years earlier after leaving art college.

My dad told me that in parts of Africa they made shoes from car tyres so I gave it a go.

"Before long, I was making shoes out of anything I could lay my hands on. Being veggie, I didn't want to use leather.

"Then I made an exciting discovery, a synthetic microfibre material used for yachting upholstery.

"It looked and felt like supple leather but was 'breathable', unlike other plastics. After some experimenting, I realised this was what I had been looking for and Vegetarian Shoes was born."

The range of styles quickly grew and as well as shoes he made boots, sandals and belts from the new fabric.

Everything was made to order and as the word spread he got busier and busier to the point where he could not make the goods fast enough He took the material to a footwear factory and got them to make shoes for the company.

But Mr Webb still has the original car tyre shoes at his shop.

He said: "Winning the award was special.

Everyone at the shop was really chuffed."

The award was presented by singer Hazel O'Connor.