THREE business partners are touching wood that their Kirkby timber importing business takes off.

Hardwood Sales, on Simonswood's Williams Industrial Estate, will import specialist hardwoods that can be stored for local, national and global customers.

John McCoy, Tony Collins and John Crosbie, who boast 70 years' experience between them, left their jobs to set up on their own after spotting the niche.

Hardwood imports have declined in the past decade due to competition from China.

Mr McCoy said: "We left a yard turning over £20m because we saw the opportunity for a specialist importer.