VIRGIN'S new tilting trains are proving the impetus for a fast-expanding East Lancashire firm.

The kitchens for Virgin Trains' new buffet cars are being made in Haslingden, at units taken over by Catering Equipment Design, of a Clayton-le-Moors.

The company, which has been making catering equipment for seven years, is among the country's leading specialist designers and manufacturers to the catering industry.

CED equipment can be found in pubs, clubs, hotels, cinemas, coffee shops, works and hospital canteens around the country - and now on the latest tilting trains.

The company has also supplied kitchen equipment, through its distributor network, for Gary Rhodes' first restaurant outside London, at the Golden Tulip, the official Manchester United Hotel, Old Trafford.

"When we set-up in Clayton as stainless steel fabricators, we employed around a dozen people. That figure has now risen to the mid-forties, including a dozen at Haslingden where we manufacture the train kitchens," said CED financial director Neil Rowbotham.

The company's Virgin Trains coup came as a quite unexpected spin-off from some other work. "We then approached Business Link for East Lancashire for assistance towards the cost of equipment needed to manufacture the train galley kitchens,"

said Neil. "They were excellent and helped us to gain access to a grant which went towards our capital investment of around £330,000."

That is now also allowing the firm to explore export opportunities and create some new lines including the BarCED - a new concept in stainless steel back bar and refrigeration equipment.

"Keeping ahead of the market with new ideas, projects and products is a key to our continued success," said CED technical director Andrew Siddle.