THE pop of champagne corks has been competing with the sound of motorcycle engines at a Blackburn-based bike makers.

CCM Motorcycles, based in Lions Drive, Shadsworth Business Park, has taken £1million-worth of orders for its new bike in just seven days.

The new CCM 404 has been hailed as the best machine yet from the company, which employs 50 in Blackburn. The CCM 404 was entirely conceived and constructed in Blackburn.

A total of 200 orders have now come in from dealers across the country, representing two months of production.

CCM Motorcycles was established in 1971 and is backed by four times World Superbike champion, Carl Fogarty, and his wife, Michaela.

In February this year, the company announced a £4million expansion in Merseyside, creating 30 to 40 new jobs, although no jobs were to be lost in Blackburn.

Managing director Peter Swift criticised the lack of support the company had received from Blackburn with Darwen Council and development firms in East Lancashire in comparison with Merseyside. The CCM 404 was unveiled to the country's motorcycle dealers a week ago and will go on sale in the next few days priced at £5,350.

Bob Kelsall, sales director, said: "We knew there would be interest in this machine, the market has been screaming out for it. But the level of orders has been beyond our expectation.

"CCM has helped the British motorcycle manufacturing industry change up a gear."

Production of the CCM 404s will now be stepped up to cope with demand. In four years the company has gone from producing 100 motorbikes a year to projected figures of producing 5,000 by the end of 2004.