A CARPET "renaissance" in the sunshine state of Florida is being led by an East Lancashire carpet firm.

Cavalier Carpets, of Blackburn, has won a major £113,000 contract at the brand new Renaissance Hotel in Fort Lauderdale.

The deal is the third major overseas order for the firm in the past four months.

"The opportunity arose through our American-based agents and we are delighted to have secured such a prestigious deal," says Hans Lowe, Cavalier's export manager.

The contract will see Cavalier install more than 5,000 square yards at the 120-bedroomed coastal hotel, covering all the public areas.

The company has worked closely with American designers Ferarri Interiors Incorporated and the custom-made carpet, a heavy duty Axminster, will be dispatched early next month.

"We are very pleased with the design and quality of the carpet," added Mr Lowe, who this week hosted a visit from Jim Lawson, a representative of the Renaissance Hotel owner, the Higgins Purchasing Group.

"We were able to show Jim the carpet in production and he was also very impressed with both our factory and our capability."

In October Cavalier won a £400,000 contract to carpet the Willard InterContinetal Hotel, Washington DC, which has played host to every US president since 1853. In December the firm supplied £250,000 worth of carpets to another Renaissance hotel in Seoul.

BRIGHT FUTURE: Jim Lawson (left), a representative of the hotel's owner, examines the carpet with Hans Lowe