AFTER one of its most successful seasons ever, Worcestershire-based garden and landscaping products specialist M&M Timber is shaping up for a record new year with the announcement of some key management appointments.

The most significant sees former operations manager, Steve Farmer, taking a place on the board as operations director, reporting directly to managing director Nigel Poyner.

Mr Farmer has been with the company for more than 30 years and started as a works manager.

He is joined by Alan Perks, whose appointment as finance director will play a significant role in M&M Timber's future growth and particularly in its investment programme.

Sales director Ian Rickhuss gains a valuable right-hand man in Nigel Morris, who joins the sales team as business development manager.

Mr Morris's many years of experience in the timber trade will make a significant contribution to the company's business strategies. Mr Rickhuss said: "We are delighted with these new appointments and, with the addition of a superb range of new products, M&M certainly does have a very exciting future ahead of it".

In recent years M&M Timber has seen a large rise in sales of its all-British timber products.

Innovative new ranges of in-house designed and manufactured garden and lifestyle structures, such as thatched gazebos, arbours, children's play equipment, equestrian supplies and garden furniture, have prompted a growing demand from independent garden centres throughout the UK.

M&M Timber currently employs more than 60 staff at its 30,000 sq ft Clows Top sawmills, near Kidderminster.

The company has plenty of room for expansion on the 22- acre site and is planning further investment to develop their production facilities.