LAWRENCE Robinson never considered joining his father in the family firm, despite inheriting his skill with a needle.

But when he realised his chosen career in the travel industry was not going to pay enough to keep a mortgage and a family, he took his wife's advice and took up tailoring.

He started doing one day a week with his dad, bespoke tailor Peter Robinson, at his shop in High Street, Alcester, and gradually built it up until he went full time five years ago.

"Dad never wanted me to do it," said Lawrence. "I always sewed at home and at school but it never sunk in. Now it seems like the obvious thing for me to be doing, it seems so natural."

Lawrence, 32, lives in Salford Priors with his wife, Jane, and daughters Jessica, nine, and Emily, five. Both girls have been taught to sew by Lawrence's mother and, he says, "they sew beautifully" though it is too early to tell whether they will form a fifth generation of Robinson tailors.

Despite constantly changing fashions there is always a need, it seems, for a tailored suit and the business is now busier than ever.

This is partly because of a lack of tailors and a reduced interest in the art.

"I tried to get on a pattern cutting course but couldn't find one anywhere. Dad was taught pattern cutting by granddad but that was all very visual. He wanted me to learn a different way. The visual thing comes with experience.

"But every course I tried to get on folded because of lack of interest. I could have gone to London but not with a wife and family."

Then one day he found a leaflet advertising a course at the Inkberrow Design Centre and it was just what he wanted. He signed up and within months he was watching one of his creations being paraded along the catwalk at the Clothes Show at the NEC - a three-quarter length purple suede frock coat trimmed with gold brocade.

Tutor Vicky Moore and her students take part in the show every year and this year's theme of Leather and Lace gave them scope for dramatic creations.

"I didn't design it," Lawrence is quick to point out. "But it was good to work on the project and to see it on show at the NEC."

Most of Lawrence's work is along more classic lines, catering mainly for businessmen and women.

But he insists he has no wish to move into design, preferring to stick to what he describes as "good old fashioned tailoring".

"We'll just carry on as we are," he said. "That keeps us very busy."