A FAMOUS toffee maker, rescued from closure by a father and son team, is celebrating its success by sending a special tin to the Queen.

It was a visit by the Queen to Farrah's small Harrogate toffee factory in Back Chatsworth Grove, in December 1998, which put the Royal seal of approval on the firm's remarkable change in fortunes.

The Queen was asked to visit the factory after it became known she had a sweet tooth for Farrah's toffee, with its distinctive lemony flavour. The original toffee dates back 160 years.

She was presented with a special box during her visit and will be receiving another one this week to mark her Golden Jubilee - and the rejuvenated toffee firm's fifth anniversary.

The family partners rescued the firm from a sticky end. And to mark their anniversary, which falls on Monday, they will open the fifth Farrah's shop in Main Street, Grassington, North Yorkshire.

"When we started up we produced just a few pounds of toffee in the first week," said partner Gary Marston.

"Now we are regularly producing more than a ton a week and the amount is still growing,"