A retro campervan company is hoping “flower power” and this year’s Glastonbury Festival will help it enjoy a thriving 2013 from its new Ilkley base.

Liberty Campers was started up by Otley mechanic John Richardson and his wife, Tracey, in 2009 when they only had two campers – Dylan, a green splitscreen vehicle dating back to 1963, and Dougal, a 2009 machine in bright orange and flowers.

Quickly discovering that their idea of hiring the Volkswagens out was proving a hit with the public, the couple moved operations to larger premises in Addingham in 2011 and has built its campers fleet up to seven.

Now it has moved to another new base, again bigger than before, this time in Ilkey, at Ashlands Industrial Estate, and Tracey and John are planning on becoming an integral part of the local community.

Tracey said: “We are entering two vintage campers into the Ilkley Carnival in May, with a British history ‘flower power’ theme.

“We like involving ourselves in the local area, and also take part in the Burley-in-Wharfedale classic car show and the Otley Vintage Transport Extravaganza, as well as doing many local weddings and wedding fairs at places like the Craiglands Hotel, Bolton Abbey and Denton Hall.

“We decided to make the move from Addingham when the unit came free in Ilkley and it ticked all the boxes: a bigger unit allowing us more scope for expansion, more customer-friendly parking and access, and, being just off the main A65 through Ilkley, it felt more in the hub of things.

“We think Ilkley is a fantastic town with lots to offer, a real gateway to The Dales.

“Last year was hard with the ongoing recession and the poor weather affecting Yorkshire tourism, and events in general, but we are up on advance bookings for this year and looking forward to a busy summer ahead.

“Events such as the news the Tour de France is coming through Yorkshire in 2014, and a very popular Glastonbury Festival being on again this year will all help.”

As well as working on the hiring out side of the business John, 44, has been busy maintaining and repairing other local campers, including the blue one used on TV soap Emmerdale, which he had to dash to and fix before a live episode.

Casting a proud eye over his fleet, he said: “We have seven VW campers on our books now, giving a mixture of 1970s original classic campers Poppy and Brian, new Danbury retro style campers Dougal, Daisy and Percy, and a fantastic new modern T5, which has proved very popular, and of course the 1963 splitscreen, Dylan.

“Dylan has again been busy on many promotional shoots with local photographers, and companies such as Mamas & Papas and Now magazine, and has a PR shoot coming up with clothing retailer Oasis in the new Trinity Leeds shopping centre.

“Percy, meanwhile, took part in the Yorkshire Food Tour last year with Masterchef finalist Tom Rennolds!”

The Richardsons started Liberty Campers, originally running it from their home on Fawkes Drive, Otley, after John’s employers, the local Richard Alexander Volkswagen car dealership, folded in 2008.