STATIONERY firm Pentel celebrated its 10 year presence in Swindon by cracking open the bubbly.

The Japanese-owned manufacturer of writing products has based its UK headquarters in offices on the former Vickers Estate at South Marston Business Park since May 1992.

And employees celebrated the fact in style.

Sales and marketing manager, Duncan Savage, 44, said: "I joined the company when Pentel moved here in 1992.

"Around 22 of the 47 people we employ here in Swindon also joined when we first opened and I think that reflects what kind of employer we are we have a high percentage of people who want to stay.

"We celebrated our birthday with a special cake, cracked open the bubbly and handed out long service awards.

"We work in an extremely competitive market, but thrive on innovation and are very fortunate to have found a very loyal workforce here in Swindon they've been brilliant and we hope to be a force in the town for years to come."

Globally Pentel's turnover is £300 million each year and although products are shipped in from Japan, all the company's sales, marketing and distribution is masterminded from its Swindon base.

They reckon to have a 20 per cent share of the high street market and a 30 per cent share of the office stationary cupboard market.

Pentel made headlines when they held a recruitment drive for 30 jobs at Swindon Job Centre in 1992 and more than 250 people turned up.

But one of the company's biggest successes in recent years has been the coloured gel pen, which has been a huge classroom phenomenon throughout the country.