FACTORY tours have been extended to cope with demand to see one of the few remaining pottery manufacturers in action.

Emma Bridgewater has added extra dates to the tour schedule at the company's premises in Lichfield Street, Hanley, over the Easter break.

The factory is one of the few remaining working potteries in the region to locally manufacture all its earthenware. It produces more than a million pieces each year, which are shipped across the world.

Matthew Dobson, commercial director, said: "We had no idea how popular the tours would be. We started late last year with one tour a week at 11am on Tuesdays and we really didn't know whether anyone would be interested, but as word has spread people are booking their tours way in advance.

"We have more than 10,000 Emma Bridgewater Collectors' Club members, so we knew many of them would be interested in seeing behind the scenes. Often they travel from all over the country and even abroad to visit the factory and shops on site.

"However, the real eye-opener has been the number of local people keen to see at first-hand an industry which is obviously very close to their hearts."

Tours will be held every day from Monday, April 6 until to Good Friday. The factory will be closed during the second week of the Easter break.

To book, call 01782 269682.