A GENTLEMAN'S outfitters which was set up in the reign of King William IV celebrates its 170th birthday this year.

Heaphys, which now has branches in Rugby, Sutton Coldfield and Warwick as well as the Church Green West store.

In addition to selling off-the-peg clothing, the company set up a formal wear and made-to-measure concession at Beatties, Solihull last October. Another will be present in the new Beatties department store which opens in Birmingham in September.

Heaphys has made the most of the information superhighway by processing orders from customers as far afield as America, Denmark and New Zealand via its website.

Chairman Robert Nash said: "The world has moved on dramatically since we first appeared, but in that 170 years we have never been slow in responding to change.

"By following market trends we continue to offer classic style and quality. We are fashionable without being high fashion, and we are a supplier which intends to be here for a good few years yet."