A music shop owner was lucky enough to meet the current head of a piano-making company which has supplied instruments to the likes of Richard Clayderman.

Chris Harker, of Harker and Howarth, on Folds Road, met Zuzanah Petrof as she visited music shops throughout the country. She was accompanied by her sister Ivana.

Richard, who arranged the tour, said: "The Petrof company has been making and developing pianos for 138 years.

"They are considered to build one of the best pianos and Zuzanah wanted to visit the UK to personally to thank retailers for their support over the years."

Zuzanah said: "We work hard to ensure the sound from our pianos is gentle, cultured and pure -- a softer, European sound compared to the harsher instruments from the Far East -- so it's wonderful to see them in such a cultured and beautiful showroom."

Charles Harker said: "In the piano industry the Petrof name is revered and respected, so I was amazed when we were asked if we would be happy to entertain Zuzanah and Ivana.

"It was a delight to meet the descendants of Antonin Petrof -- the original founder of Petrof -- and customers in the shop that day were thrilled to meet the family behind such beautiful instruments -- they couldn't believe it when I told them Petrof has supplied pianos to Duke Ellington, Richard Clayderman and Petula Clark."