A CLASSIC car company in Redditch is continuing its life in the fast lane.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire in Hunt End, the UK's largest classic car hire company, was only founded in 2006 but has expanded rapidly.

It was started by husband and wife team Graham and Janine Eason with the aim of making hiring a vintage car simple, easy and enjoyable.

In addition Great Escape is a major supplier of cars for TV, film, music video and advertising and marketing work.

These include providing cars for the BBC's Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Tesco, Jack Wills, various music videos and New York fashion label Tucker.

It has also just taken on its first apprentice, with plans to recruit more already in the pipeline.

Redditch MP Karen Lumley recently visited the firm.

Mrs Lumley said: “Once again I am amazed by the wide range of things we have going on in Redditch.

"Graham and his team are doing fantastically well, and the business has grown massively over the past few years. To have the UK’s largest classic car hire company based on our doorstep is another real success story for our area.

"But they’re certainly not stopping there and have clear plans for the future, as evidenced by their new apprenticeship programme.”

The firm, which rents and leases classic cars to clients looking to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, wedding or other special occasion, started with just two cars – a Jensen Interceptor and an Alfa Romeo Spider.

The fleet now covers everything from 1950s Morris Minors to modern Jaguars and comprises more than 60 cars.

It has operations in Devon, Yorkshire and the Cotswolds plus a network of smaller owner operated sites in Shropshire, Leeds, the Peak District and even France.