Alice Through the Looking Glass: Shropshire mirror couple's creation to hit the big screen

But mirrors created by Rob and Jo Young are now on the big screen, transporting Alice back to Underland – that's right, not Wonderland – in the new blockbuster, Alice Through the Looking Glass.

The couple, both aged 42, who run Mirrorworks in the town, were thrilled to see the mirrors in the trailer after beginning work on them two years ago.

They began by making a prototype and at the time, they didn't know which film they would feature in – they just had a suspicion it may be the re-make of Lewis Carroll's famous sequel.

But once Disney prop staff saw the first mirror, they ordered five and the couple were finally able to see how their mirrors would play a part.

Mrs Young said: "We've wanted to make film props for years so we were absolutely blown away and hugely excited when we found out who the mirrors were for.

"When we had finished the commission we were sent a lovely postcard from the set crew thanking us for our work. That was such a lovely touch and finally made the whole project feel real.

"It's been a very long awaited two years, we haven't been allowed to mention it to anyone – not even our children, as we signed a confidentiality agreement.

"When the first trailer came out Rob was working away so I sent him a link to it. Five minutes later he was on the phone, we were dumbstruck to see our mirror on the big screen."

The film is the second instalment of Alice in Wonderland and tells the story of her return to Underland when she must race against time to save the Mad Hatter.

It stars Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and Mia Wasikowska as Alice and comes six years after Tim Burton's first instalment was released.

The film also stars Sacha Baron Cohen as Time, the story's villain who Alice must steal from to travel into the past.

Mrs Young said she hadn't had chance to see the film yet, so isn't sure which mirrors were used at different points in the story.

However, the main mirror used to transport Alice through the looking glass appears in the trailer – something the couple couldn't quite believe.

She said: "Over the course of the two years we kept a look out for any promotional info about the film.

"Then in the autumn of last year the first trailer broke and we couldn't believe it, there was our mirror centre stage with Alice climbing through it into Underland. I just wish our mirrors were a portal to another dimension – we could certainly sell mirrors that could do that."

The couple began work in 2007 having previously spent time together making a variety of things in workshops.

They both come from furniture and jewellery backgrounds and found by joining skills they could make antique mirror glass finishes in the traditional way.

Mirrorworks, based in Frankwell, has produced work for a number of organisations and families, including Chatsworth House, Ralph Lauren, Linley and Colefax & Fowler.

Others include fashion designer Nicole Farhi, manufacturers Proctor & Gamble and interior designer Nicky Haslam.

They have worked with clients from around the world, including buyers from Moscow and Mustique, in the West Indies.

For more information about the company visit www.antiquemirrorglass.com