A CO-OPERATIVE of farmers' wives whose members have become trained miliners is celebrating 21 years in business.

Get Ahead Hats has grown to 22 outlets - to be found from Devon and Kent to North Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear - with an annual turnover of £500,000.

With 4,500 hats always available to hire or buy, it is believed to be the largest supplier of ladies hats in the country.

The business was set up by Beryl Otley, who opened the first Get Ahead Hats at her home at Dutton Farm, beside the A59 near Poppleton, York, after she struggled to find a hat for the wedding of one of her daughters.

Mrs Otley, who runs the business with her husband, Barry, said: "I had no idea it would turn out like this. I wasn't doing it for the money, I was doing it because I love to work.

"I think our success has been down to the high quality and detail in the hats and service we give, and the fact that people do like to come to a farm rather than a high street. Our prices are also lower because we do not have the overheads."

The company has been recognised by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Business Link as the most successful UK farm diversification aimed at farmers' wives.

Get Ahead Hats has showrooms at Applegarth Farm, Welbury, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, and Scotts House Farm, Newcastle Road, West Bolden, South Tyneside.

For more information, visit the website www.getaheadhats.co.uk