Wanted: Your Aga sagas

Bosses at Shropshire's Aga factory have launched a huge search to find every Aga cooker ever made in the county and then sent across the world.

The appeal for Aga owners to come forward is part of the Telford-based maker's wish to include the cooker owner's name in the foundry's 300th anniversary celebrations. And the company is even promising a reward for every Aga owner who gets in touch.

William McGrath, chief executive of Aga Rangemaster Group Plc, said: "The Aga foundry in Coalbrookdale is the birthplace of industry.

"We should celebrate the historical importance of our cast-iron cooking pots and show how with Aga and Rayburn we are still innovating British made products with international significance."

The search is part of the year-long programme of events to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Abraham Darby first smelting iron ore with coke at Aga's foundry in Coalbrookdale.

Darby's development was intended to make cast-iron cooking pots, but his innovation triggered the entire Industrial Revolution.

Aga has made cooking pots at the foundry for 300 years and has seen the progression into the production of solid fuel fires and cast-iron ranges.

The tradition continued after the Second World War with the introduction of the famous Aga and Rayburn cookers, which are only made at Coalbrookdale for both home and export markets.

As part of the celebrations, workers at the company will be creating a 300th year limited production Aga in three colours with a specially designed Aga motif.

And new cast-iron cookware lines will be launched with the original Coalbrookdale trademark.

Selected Aga owners will also get the chance to enjoy exclusive site visits to the Coalbrookdale foundry and factory.

Aga employs approximately 650 people at its Ketley headquarters and manufacturing base in Coalbrookdale.

For more information people can visit the website www.agawanted.com or call 0845 4810062.