A SOUTH Lakeland clothing shop took part in its parent company's 140th anniversary celebration by staging a competition for its customers.

Greenwoods Menswear, which has a shop on Highgate, Kendal, proved its classic styles and business ethos have worn well with time as it reached the momentous anniversary of the first shop's opening.

John Marlow, manager of the Kendal branch - which has served South Lakeland residents since 1960 - said: "We still keep the same values that Greenwoods had years ago.

"In a nutshell, giving the customers what they want - good quality at reasonable prices - is the making or breaking of any company."

Local winners of Greenwoods' anniversary prize draw were: Geoffrey Green, from Bowness, who won one of 140 televisions; and Steve Head, from Burton-in-Kendal, who took away one of 140 bottles of champagne.

The company's founder, James Greenwood, started the business when he took over a hatters shop in 1860s Bradford and kept it going with his 12-year-old son Moses.

The young Greenwood opened his own shop in 1865 after the original building was demolished, taking home 9s.

2d - about 46 pence - on his first day of business.