Lliswerry OAPs help make son's invention a global hit

But for Newport couple, Peggy and Tegryd Greedy, their lives couldn’t be more different.

Spending their days packing and sending out laces from their Lliswerry home sounds like hard work but the couple do it all in the name of love.

This is because Mr and Mrs Greedy, of Churchward Drive, are the extra pairs of hands often needed to help with their son’s business venture.

They were rolled into help about a year ago after son Peter Greedy, 44, came up with the idea of the world’s first permanently-tied shoe laces.

The inventor began developing the idea for Greeper Laces in 2001 after becoming frustrated about his children’s laces constantly coming untied.

He patented the design in 2006 and launched the laces last year.

Since then the laces, which come in several designs and colours, have become a worldwide hit with orders sent to Australia, New Zealand and America.

They are even being used by Chrissie Welington, Triple Ironman World Champion for 2007, 2008 and 2009.

But the laces’ success means the father-of-three has had to rely on his father, a retired Gwent vicar, and his mother, who is a project officer for the Mother’s Union, for extra help in sending the laces out after receiving orders from the website.

“We had a huge splurge recently but it’s been quite quiet at the moment,”

Mrs Greedy said.

She said they can sometimes work for quite a few hours depending on the size of the order.

The inventor is hoping all the work will eventually happen in China as this is the most cost-effective option.

Mrs Greedy said: “Our work is getting less and less which has been the aim all along.

“We keep a stock here anyway of all the bits and pieces. If Peter can’t satisfy the order he sends us the information and we assemble them and send them off,” she said.

The grandmother-of-five said: “We’re very proud of hm. If you’ve got children, all you want to do is help them as much as you can. It’s all part of being a parent.”