One of the county's oldest men's outfitters has broken with 170 years of tradition by selling clothes for women.

For generations, WP Hine and Co, now based in Mill Street, Wantage, has supplied bespoke tweed suits to the cream of Oxfordshire society - including lords and bishops. The store was formerly based in Oxford's High Street but moved to Wantage two years ago because of rising rents and traffic problems in the city centre.

The company said the move had led to a three-fold increase in business. On Saturday the company officially opened its new premises in Mill Street, and unveiled its womenswear shop on the opposite side of the road.