A BOLTON firm which manufactures and rents tipis, including for the recent town centre Winter Wonderland event, has been given the royal seal of approval.

Big Chief Tipis worked at Windsor Castle as part of the celebrations for the Queen's 90th birthday, which ran from May 12 to 15.

It provided four tipis, which were used as an area for some of the 1,500 performers to entertain themselves, housing table tennis and table football games, as well as providing a venue for a huge after party.

It is the most high profile booking for the Breightmet based firm, with other celebrity engagements including the wedding of former Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan to reality TV star Mark Wright.

Other clients have included former superbike racer Carl Fogarty, football manager David Moyes and chef James Martin.

The firm's products were also used in Bolton town centre during the Winter Wonderland festival before Christmas, housing a cafe and keeping diners dry and out of the cold.

Its tipis will also be used at this weekend's Glastonbury Festival, housing a VIP food and drink area for music fans.

The company is a family affair, being run by Gary Harthern, his daughter Hayley and son Hadley.

Gary set up his firm The Awning Company in Breightmet 30 years ago, manufacturing awnings for caravans as well as motorsport and hospitality events.

But after attending a party which featured a giant tipi, Gary decided he could produce something better himself, sparking an idea.

He set up The Tipi Company, which manufacturers the products, ranging from smaller tipis for events such as children's parties to larger ones for weddings.

Hayley was originally reluctant to join the family firm, instead working in the events industry for Caesars UK for 10 years.

But two years ago she decided to get involved, and established a sister company, Big Chief Tipis, which rents out the tipis.

The Tipi Company is the only company in Britain which manufacturers tipis, the other being in Sweden, and the new business aims to capitalise on this.

Hayley, aged 30, said: "We have started getting lots of enquiries recently since we were at the Queen's event. I don't think we will ever get a bigger booking than that!

"But we recently won the Best Pop-up Venue Award at the County Brides North West Wedding Awards, and it all seems to be positive at the moment."