MAIL order giant Kays could soon be producing its most distinctive catalogue ever.

A recent open day organised by the Worcester firm's heritage group resulted in so much memorabilia that a Memory Lane-style picture book is on the cards.

Nearly 100 past and present employees of Kay and Co Ltd visited the nostalgia exhibition at the company's warehouse at 250 Bransford Road, many bringing with them not only their memories, but also old photographs and other documents, some dating back more than 60 years.

"I was absolutely overwhelmed by the response," said event organiser Bernard Mills of Kays Heritage Group.

"We were expecting perhaps a dozen people, but they just kept rolling in all day.

"One visitor, Doris Bills, of Patterdale Drive, Warndon, worked for Kays in the 1930s in the St Oswalds building, while another woman brought along some pictures of the Stencils Department in 1953. Apparently the members were known as the Geisha Girls because of the style of their mauve and pink uniforms.

"The day was like a Kays reunion with people meeting old friends and former colleagues they hadn't seen in years.

"In fact, it was so successful, we might repeat it in the autumn."

On display was an extensive collection of Kays catalogues dating back to the early 20th Century, items from bygone days that were sold by the company, such as toy models, sewing machines and clocks, and displays of old photographs and other company paraphernalia.

The heritage group aims to produce the definitive history of Kays, which is now part of Reality, and because of the amount of material now available, Mr Mills said there is every chance a nostalgia publication could be out within 12 months.