A Cowling firm is one of a handful in the country working to preserve part of Britain's historic industrial heritage.

When Alan McEwen first set up his boiler repairs firm in 1968, 80 per cent of the business catered for manufacturing companies, including dyeworks, paper mills, carpet manufacturers, cotton and woollen mills and breweries.

Just 20 per cent of the work at HA McEwen (boiler repairs) at Farling Top was dedicated to using specialised and rare skills to restore boilers to help preserve Britain's steam engine history.

But, with the demise of industrial Britain, companies relocating to the Third World and the importation of cheap, finished goods, the business has now been turned on its head.

The seven-strong team now concentrates most of its efforts on restoring steam railways, traction engines, steam rollers and steam boats.

Mr McEwen, a close friend of the late Bolton steeplejack Fred Dibnah, has secured contracts from all over the country and abroad, including restoring a steam boat in Australia.

With average railway locomotive boilers costing between £40,000 and £60,000 to restore, the Heritage Lottery Fund provides a lifeline for clients wanting to carry out this work.

Mr McEwen said: "Someone in Government must have realised tourism is extremely important to our economy and now Government and EU money is also available, as well as Lottery funding, to help such restoration work.

"As an industrial nation, Britain was first for engineering and technology. It was born here, particularly in the north. That's what Fred always put across in his programmes.

"It's important to preserve our heritage for younger people who don't remember industry in this country."

Mr McEwen met Mr Dibnah more than 20 years ago and is godfather to the steeplejack's sons Jack and Roger. They met when Mr Dibnah was being interviewed by the BBC.

The pair hit it off immediately: "Within quarter of an hour we were the best of friends," said Mr McEwen.

Prior to his death in November 2004, Mr Dibnah used to visit Mr McEwen in Cowling and the pair would like nothing better than to look around Barnoldswick's Bancroft Mill, Bradley Mill or Waterloo Mill in Silsden.

Mr McEwen said his friend was fearless, but, despite the dare-devil stunts he carried out on camera, he could "fall off a matchstick".

He added: "He was a very brave man, full of integrity."

Mr McEwen feels extremely lucky he has managed to make a living out of his childhood hobby.

While his friends enjoyed playing sport, Mr McEwen liked nothing better than looking around mill yards and train spotting.

He has even bought a couple of boilers which have been restored on the site of his business.

The boilers were last stoked up a few years ago and featured in an episode of Channel 4's Scrapheap Challenge.

In 1998 Mr McEwen wrote "Chronicles of a Lancastrian Boilermaker" and is often asked to give seminars on his specialised profession.

Mr McEwen hopes the business will stay in the family, as his son, Alasdair, works for him and his ex-wife, Maria, is instrumental in ensuring the business runs smoothly.

Foreman Mick White will celebrate 25 years at the company in September.

"We're very fortunate to have the specialised skills and an extremely good name," added Mr McEwen.