A QUEEN Anne armchair that has been covered with denim recycled from jeans bought in local charity shops is to go on show at the Ideal Home Exhibition at London's Earls Court.

The wingback chair has been re-covered by Emma Sayer, of Lunedale, who has just won top student status and a £100 prize from tutors of a furniture upholstery course she has completed.

Miss Sayer, 22, is an employee of Anthony Nixon Furniture in Barnard Castle, where she has trained and worked as a cabinet maker since leaving school six years ago. After acquiring skills as a woodworker, she showed a keen interest in developing her abilities in the upholstery part of the business. This led to the firm securing her a place on a course at Hereford College of Technology, operated by the Countryside Agency.

She got the notion for using the 15 pairs of jeans for the chair, which was her final exam piece, by adapting the idea from a lifestyle magazine. The chair will also be displayed at the Furniture Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. It is currently on show at the Anthony Nixon showroom in Birch Road, Barnard Castle.

"I am delighted to be named top student in what is quite a physical activity," said Miss Sayer. "There are a growing number of women taking up this kind of work, but it can be quite tough on the wrists and fingers."

Her boss, Chris Dauber, a director of Anthony Nixon Furniture, said: "We are thrilled that Emma has won this recognition for herself and once again proving to us that investing in young staff can be worthwhile and rewarding."