A PADIHAM company has gained the royal seal of approval after recycling more than five million tyres to create surfaces for equestrian events.

And staff from Equestrian Services Ltd in Station Road, Padiham, are now working around the clock by appointment to the Queen after beating off rival companies to win a contract for her Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The company will lay surfaces for the All the Queen's Horses event at Windsor Castle on May 16, 17 and 18.

The three-day extravaganza is to be an equestrian tribute to 50 years of the Queen's reign.

Equestrian Services director Paul Harper, who runs the company with wife Rita, said he felt the contract had been secured through their prestige reputation.

Previous clients have included the Royal Armouries in Leeds, the Royal Household Cavalry, police forces, jockey Frankie Dettori, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, Pinky Heinz, Robert Strong and Paul Nichols.

Mr Harper said: "Three companies tendered for a contract and we came up as having the best system. Our surface is not affected by weather as we have a unique grid system.

The company's sales consultant Ian Haythornthwaite said staff had travelled from Padiham to Windsor to do the work.

He added: "They are working round the clock in order to meet the constraints imposed for the provision of this installation. This is just one customer you can't afford to let down.

Workers have to lay over two and a half thousand tons of material -- 100 articulated truckloads -- on a temporary free draining foundation.

It will then all have to be removed after the show so the grassed surface can recover.

The company uses recycled materials such as tyres -- of which it claims to have used five million over the last 12 months -- and other by-products of rubber and fibre to create the surface.

A company spokesman added: "These items otherwise present a hazard to the environment and to this end the research and development unit at Padiham works closely with the local Environmental Health authorities to ensure that all materials and methods employed in the production of riding surfaces comply with every aspect of environmental health guidelines."

Future plans for the business include setting up plants in Holland and France where new clients have been identified.