A firm of rug makers has returned to Ledbury town centre for the first time in more than 30 years.

Roger Oates Design has opened a new showroom in Tinsmiths Alley, off the High Street.

The company, which is known for its striped stair runners and rugs, started life in Ledbury and still has its head office just a couple of miles away in Eastnor.

Roger Oates Design also has a London studio on the banks of the River Thames in Chelsea.

“Ledbury was the location of our original design studios and hand looms,” said a spokesperson.

“After nearly 30 years we are thrilled to announce that we are returning, expanding into a new showroom in the heart of the town, only a few miles from our Eastnor Head Office and Workshop.

“The new showroom is tucked away on Tinsmiths Alley, just a short walk away from the Ledbury Design Quarter.

“Situated in a modern abstract construction of metal and glass with a beautiful, curved roof, it is worth a visit for the incredible building alone.”

It was when working on a commission for a private client in the late 80s that Roger Oates uncovered an historic Venetian Flatweave sample that had been hidden under floorboards of a grand country house.

Although heavily faded on top, the underside of the 200-year-old fragment was vividly coloured and deliberately patterned.

It became the inspiration for the first Roger Oates Design flatweave collection - and the company quickly targeted hallways and stairs as an area for growth in the carpet industry.

Using specially adapted 1950s Hattersley fabric looms, the company developed a traditional weaving process, reinventing this narrow-width textile for use in modern interiors.

At the end of 2022, a bespoke design service was launched – all the designs can simply be recoloured and resized but for the more adventurous, the design team will work with clients to create their own design and colours.