A guitar maker to the stars says Brexit rules have made it easier to send one of his famous instruments to South Korea than to France.

Alister Atkin, who has hand-built acoustic guitars for the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Ed Sheeran and Bruce Springsteen, complains new trade arrangements are creating a major headache for his business.

Working from his small workshop near Canterbury, he exports guitars all over the world but says it is now easier to deal with America than southern Ireland.

“I can get a guitar to Chicago in three days, but it takes 10 days to clear into Dublin,” he said.

“I’d have less hassle sending a guitar to South Korea than just across the water to France, which is crazy.

“Getting goods back from Europe to repair has also become a major ordeal, even with the right paperwork.

“It incurs a full VAT bill from the original sales price just to get it into the country - even when you have filled out a temporary repairs form.

“And sending goods back out often incurs charges on the other side.”

Alister, 47, is one of the country’s leading acoustic guitar builders and has been commissioned to recreate instruments for the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation.

He also previously featured in the ITV Made In Britain series, which highlighted the best of British industry.

He and his small team of luthiers hand build around 350 guitars a year. Such quality does not come cheap, with prices starting from £2,595.

But since Brexit was implemented, Alister has been wrestling with extra administration and costs which are hampering his business.

“It’s incredibly frustrating and added stress at a time you don’t need it and, for me at least, nothing like Brexit was promised to be,” he said.

"Before Brexit when I queried how easy business might be, there were loads of responses from leavers saying everything would be fine...”

“For example, if I want to buy rosewood from Spain, it now takes eight weeks to import CITES-listed woods from the EU to the UK and costs £300 per shipment. Six months ago it cost nothing and took two days.”

Alister - who voted to stay in the EU - posted his experience on the Canterbury Residents Facebook page, which sparked numerous anti-Brexit responses.

“The interesting thing is that before Brexit when I queried how easy business might be, there were loads of responses from leavers saying everything would be fine,” he said.

“But not a word when I post what problems I’m having.”

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