INDEPENDENT brickmaker The York Handmade Brick Company is planning to cobble up a fortune.

The firm, based at Alne, near Easingwold, has unveiled its new Courtyard Cobble.

The brown, red and purple product follows the success of the Cobble, a distinctive and unique small-scale product for the landscaped garden.

It incorporates a V-shaped false joint as was commonly found in traditional stable yards in the olden days.

Both versions sell at £35 per square metre.

The introduction of these new products comes at a significant time for the traditional brick-making industry.

Stricter European controls mean that reclaimed bricks will not be granted the vital CE Mark of approval.

The CE Mark, which has replaced the old British Kite Mark, requires information about the origins of all bricks.

Updated: 09:41 Thursday, May 27, 2004