RAINY days in Herefordshire are no problem for a Glewstone man after a competition to find Britain's oldest Barbour revealed he owned probably the oldest waxed coat in the UK.

Humphrey Stanley entered the competition run by the Daily Telegraph with a jacket given to him by a friend 12 years ago in exchange for a full-length coat.

The wax jacket sported a 'Hardy Brothers' label 'Rod in Hand' which was discontinued in 1907 - and because Mr Stanley knew other companies made clothing for Hardy, he entered it asking, 'Did Barbour make this jacket for Hardy?'

The coat was not a Barbour but Mr Stanley, an artist and illustrator, still earned himself a brand new waxed jacket by way of a consolation prize.

And the jacket? - The turn-of-the century relic has been offered to Hardy Brothers to take pride of place in their museum.