ANTIQUE dealers are used to talking about dates and figures, but for one Knutsford couple 20 is the magic number.

David and Patricia McLeod moved to the village 25 years ago and with a shared interest in antiques, they decided to go into business together.

They set up shop in the former Guardian offices on King Street 20 years ago and they have been there ever since - watching the times, traditions and tastes change.

Over the years, they have welcomed hundreds of customers into their town house shop, which, with its Georgian frontage still boasts four separate rooms on each floor, and celebrities such as actress Dame Helen Mirren, singer and musician Gary Barlow and Coronation Street regulars know exactly where to go when they want that special antique piece.

David, who is originally from the north east of Scotland and used to work in the nuclear industry, said: "We sell good quality antique collectibles and have around 20 to 25 people involved in the different rooms of the shop.

"Antiques was just a hobby and it grew from there.

"When we first opened, there was a strong interest in old, country pine and stripped pine furniture.

"These pieces sold instantly and we could barely get them across the pavement and into the shop.

"That trend faded and people were more interested in high end, quality furniture that was more traditionally antique; stand out pieces that had something that little bit different.

"Now country furniture is back in fashion again and it has to be the right colour of wood, or people want painted furniture."

David and Patricia, who have three daughters and a son, have customers visiting from all over Cheshire but last Christmas someone came in from Hong Kong and asked for a whole container of antiques to be shipped home.

David, who is 61, added: "People have always been interested in collectibles, something which is different and unique, but it always needs to have appeal.

"Stand out pieces will never go out of fashion.

"We have a fantastic group of like minded dealers involved in the 12 different rooms of the shop and, as well as a great selection of painted furniture, we are also the local stockist of Annie Sloan chalk paints."