An American couple arrived in style for their wedding in the romantic Italian city of Florence - all thanks to a family firm based in Otley.

The Classic Car Company, established only four years ago, has linked-up with similar firms around the globe to allow holidaymakers to swap their rented Fiat Panda for a Ferrari 360.

And they have been helping clients around the globe to mark their special day in style - including the American couple who rented a Jaguar S Type for their wedding.

The deal has seen the firm, based in Station Road, secure a 50 per cent increase in orders over recent months.

It has recently opened an has an office in fashionable Tuscany, where Prime Minster Tony Blair and his family holiday. Tourists will be able to collect cars from Pisa and Florence, but CCG can arrange delivery anywhere in Tuscany and throughout Italy.

Managing director Diane Smith, who runs the firm with her husband, said the business now had connections with companies in the Canary Islands, Majorca, mainland Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, Cyprus and South Africa.

The expansion followed the opening of an office in Banbury, Oxfordshire, to enable the firm to exploit the market in the South of England.

"We were already organising all the bookings for the Banbury orders, so we realised we could do that anywhere in the UK and, therefore, anywhere in the world," said Mrs Smith.

"We have had an extremely good response and there has been a lot of interest in the website. If you are going on honeymoon to Barcelona, it makes sense to hire a nice Audi TT rather than your typical hire car.

"Obviously it is not something that people are going to do every day but it is ideal for a special occasion."

Among the cars the company can offer are a Bentley Arnage, Ferrari 360 Modena, Maserati 3200 GT Spider, Jaguar E Type and Austin Healey.

And they have helped the company enjoy a turnaround in fortunes.

"We were badly affected by foot and mouth and September 11 but we are really picking up this year," said Mrs Smith. "We now have some more upmarket sports cars and they are proving very popular.

"And we are so lucky being here in Otley because we are able to market the place as being close to the Yorkshire Dales and that has the potential to attract people to the area."

The firm was set-up by the couple to enable them to make use of the classic cars they had collected over the years. The firm now employs eight full-time and five part-time staff. Its UK website is at www.classiccarhire.co.uk and its continental website is at www.classiccarhire.com