One Helston business has seen trade soar this year, simply by moving across the road.

Sewing shop Heathercraft has seen business increase by almost 50 per cent and added three new employees in the last year after relocating from one side of Coinagehall Street to the other.

Heathercraft is a family business run by husband and wife team, Avril and Brian Plunkett, that was first established in the town 19 years ago.

Avril said: “We’re thrilled with the move. We’re so busy we’re having to run to stand still. Because of the increase in business - particularly over the counter sales from passing trade - we’ve increased our stock and taken on three extra members of staff.

“Just to illustrate the point, until this year it would take a team of 12 of us one day to complete the stock take - this year we needed 22 people.”

The new shop is bigger, brighter, has more storage space, level access and room for a workshop, and the business also offers bespoke tailoring, dress and curtain making and an alteration service.

Development officer for Helston BIP, Shirley Moralee, said: “One of Helston’s numerous attractions is that many of the shops are independently run and attractively individual. To hear that investment and re-organisation have resulted in increased turnover and the creation of new jobs at Heathercraft is not only great news for the Plunketts. It’s also great news for the town as a whole.

“This type of success typifies everything we are aiming for with Helston BIP.”