LAKELAND Leather is celebrating 40 years trade at its Bowness-on-Windermere store this weekend.

The birthday 'weekend' starts today (June 14) and ends Sunday (June 17).

Opened back in 1978 as Lakeland Sheepskin Centre, local store manager Fee Hayton has worked at the store for more than half of the 40 years and said: "I still remember my first day at work. I was so nervous. There was such a lot to learn as we sell so many different types of leather jackets."

Events in store across the weekend include 40 chances to win one of 40 prizes and 'guess how many stitches make-up a leather saddle handbag'.