HERE is something different to do and see over the jubilee bank holiday - view the Mackintosh chair, before it goes south.

Northallerton furniture designer, Michael Mackintosh, has always admired the original 1904 Willow Tea Room chair, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the Art Nouveau designer, architect and painter. That chair, now in a Glasgow museum, was designed to act as a screen between the elegant Glasgow ladies partaking of tea and the till where they paid for it, as well as providing a seat for the humble cashier.

But, after being commissioned by a London company to design furniture for a reception area, a chair very similar to the original has been made and is on view at Treske of Thirsk's showrooms, but only over this extended bank holiday weekend.

After that, with its matching tables, smaller chairs and a huge curved reception desk, it will be sent to the London client.

A spokesman for the company, Mary Sara, said: "Made in solid English ash, it is breathtakingly elegant, handsome and fascinatingly complex in design. The commission has given Michael the opportunity to pay homage to his namesake.

"North Yorkshire has a long tradition of craft skills in wood and Treske's young apprentices are as good as any of their forebears, as can be seen in the exquisite accuracy of the details and finish of this extraordinary commission, the back of which has about 160 pieces."

The Treske showroom is situated next to Thirsk railway station, at Carlton Miniott.