MOST of us complain about the British weather but businesswoman Klair Ward has turned it to her advantage, opening her first shop selling umbrellas.

Love Umbrellas has taken over the top floor of Novak Bridal Lounge, Burnley Road, Rawtenstall.

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Klair creates and personalises umbrellas for the bridal and fashion markets and she has previously been operating via a mail order.

She said: “The business started four years ago, while I was helping to plan my best friend’s wedding.

“We were looking at ways to add a little something different to the wedding, and being typical British weather up north, we came up with the idea of colour matching and clashing umbrellas.

“I’ve had brides call me the night before their big day after they’ve seen the weather forecast to hire or buy a brolly.

“You can plan a wedding day to minute detail, but one of the things you can’t control is the weather.”

Klair added that having permanent retail space was the next step for her business She said: “Having a base where customers can come and browse, select and collect their umbrellas will be a real boost to business.”