AN Otley model car shop that started life in the corner of a newsagents has grown into a £2 million business empire

In 1975 Howard and Sue Cliff bought a newsagent's shop in Gay Lane and two years later started selling aeroplane and boat kits as a sideline.

By 1987, the models had outgrown the shop and the couple were forced to move to larger premises in Cross Green.

Now, 28 years on, Modelsport UK has a worldwide reputation, a hugely successful website attracting more than 4,000 visits every day and an annual turnover of £2 million.

Having expanded three times, the Cliffs are looking ahead to a time when the East of Otley relief road is built and their mail order business can take off on the proposed new industrial estate.

Over the years, the business has grown by them spotting a gap in the market and grasping new technology.

Soon after moving to Cross Green, then just a single shop, Mr Cliff, 53, made the decision to specialise in radio controlled cars.

"It was a relatively new sector of the model trade at the time but rapid advances in technology convinced me that this would be the growth area of the future. I wanted to provide a comprehensive selection of models with a full spares and service back up."

The Cliffs started to advertise widely in the newly established model car magazines and very soon built up an enviable mail order business for both the home market and abroad.

Competitors, keen to share some of the Cliff's successful style, began cropping up with some even using the same name.

"To distinguish us as the original, we renamed the company Modelsport UK and registered it as a trademark," said Mr Cliff.

Seven years ago, the shop next door in Cross Green came up for sale, giving the Cliffs the opportunity to expand again.

A major refurbishment followed giving the business a smart new showroom, more storage space, a suite of offices and a staff flat on the top floor.

Then, in 1977 Mr Cliff set up the first Modelsport website.

"It was this foray into the dot-com world that convinced me that this was where the greatest potential for growth lay," he said.

Now, the business employs eight full time and five part time people including manager, Julian Altan, who joined straight from school in 1989, and the Cliff's son, Gavin, 25, who is assistant manager.

Mrs Cliff, 51, said: "We're very much a family business and we like to think our staff feel a part of the family. There's a lot of pressure at work, so it's great that we all enjoy each other's company after hours."

Over the last three years, Mr Cliff has been developing the website with Joe Kelley and Otley IT company, ProperPanda.

Now, he spends most of his time updating information on the website, which includes a payment system.

"Our virtual shop has the busiest website in the model car trade with over 4,000 visitors each day. Our staff have also had to embrace the demands of new technology, downloading and processing the many orders and emails that arrive each day as well as serving the shop customers and dealing with telephone inquiries."

The company continues to expand. Just before Christmas it took out a lease on the shop next door which has been converted into a packing and dispatch area.

Meanwhile, the Cliffs, who live in Old Pool Bank, are very much part of the town.

Mr Cliff, who often walks with his dog to the shop across Otley Chevin, said: "The roots of the business are here in Otley and we love the town. I feel very lucky to live and work in such a beautiful area."

"I often walk to work with the dog across the Chevin. That's a fantastic start to anyone's day.

"I feel very lucky to live and work in such a beautiful area and look forward to coming in every day to work with such a great bunch of people.

"With broadband access to the internet and a networked computer system, I can do a lot of my work from home, but you can't beat coming in to the shop itself for a real buzz."

Modelsport UK's website address is www.modelsport.co.uk