ALTRINCHAM: The Cheshire Tile Studio, with showrooms in Wilmslow and Altrincham, attributes a 13.5% rise in turnover in the last six months to householders sending on improving properties rather than moving home.

Director Julian Lloyd says: "Over the last few years, many home owners have benefited from low mortgage interest rates and this has put many people in a position to make improvements to their homes, especially as it's a difficult market to sell. This has been great for business."

Mr Lloyd launched the business 2006 with Brad Crosthwaite, 33. The pair previously worked at Topps Tiles.