A Broads enterprise which has attracted worldwide interest in the ancient skill of cob building - construction using clay and sand - has launched a new course teaching people how to build their own earthen tandoor oven.

Kate Edwards and Charlotte Eve, who started their business, Edwards and Eve Cob Building, about 10 years ago, have seen it grow every year.

Courses run from their cob-built cottage on Fleggburgh Common have attracted a wide range of people interested in building their own home out of clay - from young couples looking to get on the housing ladder to pensioners hoping to build their dream property abroad.

Diversifying their business, they have also taught more than 1,000 people how to build a traditional pizza oven - and the success of that venture led them to think about spicing up the summer with the UK's first earthen tandoor oven building workshops.

Kate, 46, who has sculpted an authentic, giant, earthen tandoor in their garden, said: 'Everyone loves a curry so we knew this course would be popular. We can't wait to start sharing our tandoor building and cooking skills with people on our workshops.

'I'll show you how easy it is to build a tandoor with the earth – it's the traditional way of doing it and it creates the most aesthetic looking oven for your garden.

'We believe this original type of tandoor definitely makes the best tasting Indian food. The wood fired tandoor cooks food at such an intense heat and so quickly, the end results are truly mouthwatering and quite different from anything you've probably tasted before this side of Bangalore.'

Charlotte, 35, who takes care of feeding course participants, has spent weeks perfecting her naan and curry making skills, using recipes from Indian relations in Karnataka, India.

She said: 'This course isn't just about building a tandoor. It's about eating too and relaxing in an idyllic location on the edge of the lake here.'

The couple have turned cob building into a full-time business and people have come for courses from as far afield as Bali, Japan and Australia.

Charlotte said: 'We started with a small number of courses and now do about 20 a year with 15 people on each course.'

Tandoor oven course dates this year are May 18, June 22 and August 10. Visit the Edward and Eve Cob Building website at www.cobcourses.com

Do you have an unusual business? Email stephen.pullinger@archant.co.uk