THOUSANDS of children have been sitting comfortably for 50 years thanks to a Kent furniture firm.

Gopak of Hythe, manufacturer of stacking school chairs, is celebrating its Golden Anniversary. Gopak has established a national reputation for multi-functional furniture, especially its lightweight folding tables and chairs.

The company pioneered the popularity of folding furniture in the late 1950s with the creation of a folding tea trolley, which it sold to leading department stores.

Since the tea trolley, Gopak has gone on to create many more items of useful furniture. Today, it employs nearly 50 people at its plant in Canterbury. It is now the UK's market leader in the design, manufacture and supply of lightweight aluminium-framed folding tables.

To mark the occasion, Grant Phillips, marketing director at Barclays, the company's bankers throughout the 50 years, presented Gopak with an engraved decanter. He said the bank was delighted to have been involved with the firm since 1954.

"Gopak is a highly successful business which has continually evolved to remain a leader in the marketplace. The banking services we have provided over the last 50 years have been designed to complement Gopak's business and we look forward to helping the company achieve even more in the next 50 years."

Gopak managing director, Andrew Fieldwick, said: "We are proud of our achievements over the last 50 years and are grateful for the support of our loyal staff, customers and suppliers."