CHAIR maker Reed and Rackstraw of Bledlow Ridge has bucked the recent trend of failing furniture companies in the area by announcing that it is to reproduce two chairs from Windsor Castle.

The pair of chairs have been ordered by a private buyer at a cost of more than £20,000.

The Free Press broke the story that Wycombe furniture company William Bartlett is to close in June after an association with the town dating back to 1864.

However, Reed and Rackstraw, a small workshop in Chinnor Road, Bledlow Ridge, has survived by targeting the very top clientele.

The company has completed many other prestigious jobs, such as producing the chairs for the cabinet room of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood and an order from a former Spice Girl.

Peter Rackstraw, the co-owner and fifth generation of the family company, said: "There is still a small trade for specialist work and we appeal to the very top end of the market. We still make everything ourselves without any importing."

Like so many others, the business started up in High Wycombe and was passed from father to son. Mr Rackstraw learnt his trade from his father Eric before taking over the business. The company moved out of Wycombe ten years ago when Mr Rackstraw went into business with Paul Reed at Bledlow Ridge.

Mr Rackstraw said: "I worked for my father, but I could see the writing was on the wall in High Wycombe. We used to do mass production work, but you cannot compete with the overseas market any more. I think it's sad this is the way the trade has gone."

The company concentrates its trade on quality dining room chairs, and currently has show rooms in New York, Illinois, Moscow and Harrods.