WILTON Carpets marked the 20 year anniversary since it reopened its doors following its sudden closure in January 1995 with a celebratory village fete and party.

Staff, many of whom have been with the company since it reopened, enjoyed traditional country fete games, a beer tent, live four-piece band and a hog roast.

A manufacturing success story, the mood at the factory is markedly different to when it shut with the loss of 100 jobs.

Now it has round-the-clock production and with over 200 people employed across the carpet manufacturing, Wilton Shopping Village and three Wilton Carpet retail outlets.

Peter Le Count, managing director, said: “The factory is busier than it has ever been and it makes us all feel very proud that we continue to produce such good quality carpet with outstanding design.

"We still supply prestigious hotels and major public buildings like the Houses of Parliament or the United Nations Headquarters in New York but we have also exploited the rise in eateries in the big pub chains. We’ve even supplied the carpet at the Augusta Golf Club, home to the US Masters."

It was on April 11, 1995 and when a team made up of former employees formed a new business to trade on the Grade II listed Wilton Carpet Factory with the focus of producing carpets for the hospitality and entertainment sector.

“We now have a business working 24 hours a day and our customers are appreciating the design and service the Wilton Factory brings to them," Mr Le Count added.

"We expect to report record profit levels this year and are contemplating investment in new machinery, for further growth.

"Back in 1995 there were probably around 35 carpet manufacturers in the UK and now that number is less than half. We’ve not only survived, but grown because we have remained focused on what we do and have a highly skilled workforce.”