Where does your average Kansas milk maid possibly find herself a milking stool in these days when hi-tech machines have taken over from the traditional practice?

The unlikely answer comes courtesy of a new Bingley business founded by an engineer who has spent his life manufacturing poultry cages, and a local conservationist.

The Milking Stool Company started business just a few months ago manufacturing the traditional three-legged seats for maids to sit on as they milk their cows.

And one of the first orders came courtesy of a shopkeeper in Gardner, Kansas, who linked up with the Bingley-based firm via its new website.

Founder Paul Patchett had hoped the woman planned to sell the stools as items of furniture in her shop, but she replied: "I hate to disappoint you. I was not planning to sell them in the store."

She added: "I was planning on using them as milking stools. Crazy, I know, to order milking stools from England when all I need is a board screwed into the top of another board... but I want the milking stools."

Mr Patchett said the global interest was "very exciting" - even if he recognised the potential market was limited.

And he admitted the new venture was a bit of a diversion from his other line of business, as owner of long-established Patchett Engineering. Once a world-leading manufacturer of cages for battery hens, it has been hit hard by new European legislation and staff numbers have slumped from 80 people 20 years ago to just four today.

He started the new company after linking-up with conservationist Richard Kirby, who manages woodlands in Bradford. As part of his job, he works with local schools, using timber from the woods to make items including playground equipment and log cabins.

The Milking Stool Company uses timber from Hollin Wood, which is being managed by Mr Kirby, at 17th century Raven-royd Farm on the banks of the River Aire in Bingley. The stools are put together in Clayton Heights.

As well as the export order to Kansas, a local Japanese restaurant has also snapped up the stools. Bosses said the low design was popular because it made customers feel like they were sitting close to the floor, as in the Japanese tradition.

Mr Patchett said the stools used small pieces of timber which could not be used in some of Mr Kirby's larger projects. "We are using timber that people are otherwise doing nothing with," said Mr Patchett.

"We were just looking for a way to put it to a useful purpose. I don't think anyone else is making milking stools these days - we have searched the internet and not managed to find any other companies. Of course, it is a very small market!"

Mr Kirby said the management of the woodland involved replacing older trees with new plantations in a bid to make it more sustainable.

For more information about the company, visit www.themilkingstoolcompany.co.uk.