Affluent amateurs and professional players are ensuring a specialist musical instrument retailer is whistling a happy tune amid the economic gloom.

A ten per cent sales increase at the Early Music Shop over the past year has enabled the firm to buck the trend.

Turnover has been boosted by demand for expensive instruments such as harpsichords, harps and top of the range wind instruments.

The Early Music Shop, founded as a tiny specialist corner of the former Woods music store in Bradford more than 40 years ago, moved into its premises in Salts Mill in 2007.

It has enabled the business to benefit from Saltaire’s World Heritage Site status, which draws thousands of visitors from around the world. The firm also has a healthy online operation.

Owner Peter Booth said: “You can never be complacent, and we have had some difficult times, but the past year has been very good and we’ve had a cracking summer so far.

“We’ve been helped by growing sales of more expensive instruments. People with money to spare are looking to upgrade and are willing to spend on a quality instrument.

“We are a unique business in the UK and attract customers from as fair afield as the United States and Japan. We also have a good passing trade, all of which has enabled us to keep increasing our sales.”

Business has also been boosted by attendance at music festivals and workshops, where Peter and his colleagues are able to drum up business among ‘captive audiences’.

He has attended several UK events this year and two of his colleagues are going to Utrecht in Holland later this week for a three-day festival.

Peter also attends the world’s largest early music festival in Frankfurt, which enables him to develop relationships with key suppliers The Saltaire business, which is part of the US-based Music Sales Group, also organises an annual instrument exhibition, which is held each year at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

The Early Music Shop is also sponsoring two concerts on Saturday and Sunday in the United Reform Church on Victoria Road. as part of the Saltaire Festival.