A BUSINESS born in the depths of the recession is celebrating because after 10 years of applying, it has finally been given the chance to exhibit its garden furniture at the UK's most famous flower show.

Dave and Tracey Griffiths, both 39, started Rain Or Shine Garden Furniture at a time when work was hard to come by for carpenter Dave. Twelve years later they are displaying at the Chelsea Flower Show.

"In 1992 Dave was a building carpenter and he was having to travel to London or Birmingham just to get a day's work," said Tracey, who was also pregnant with their daughter Natasha, now 11. "My father-in-law was a cabinet maker and had his own business making indoor furniture and the occasional piece of garden furniture."

Dave decided he wanted to take over and develop the garden furniture and set to work in his back garden. His first bench was displayed outside his father Clive's house in Purton and sold within a couple of days.

It was a brave and well-timed decision. The growth of gardening and home improvement TV shows was mirrored by a growth in the popularity of attractive garden furniture.

"When we started we would sell pieces worth £200 or £300. Now it is over £1,000 per order," said Tracy, now mother to Sam, nine, as well as Natasha.

As soon as they were on their feet Tracy began applying to exhibit at garden shows. For the last three years the firm has had a display at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, but it has taken 10 years of persistence to win a slot at Chelsea.

"It isn't just a case of filling in forms. You have to plan out and put together a presentation pack about your display and you have to be a really high standard to get in," explained Tracey, now mother to Sam, nine, as well as Natasha. "I never expected to be accepted, but I just wanted to keep on applying.

"This is a prestigious event for us to present our superb quality range of garden furniture, which will include our new conservatory seating. It is very exciting to be showing off products which are designed and crafted right here in Swindon."

Now solidly established, the firm has two full-time employees and a part-time driver as well as the husband and wife partners and it generates a healthy £160,000 a year turnover. There is a showroom at Common Platt and the furniture is now made, using traditional methods, at a workshop in South Marston.