MORE than 250 jobs are set to be created in Blackburn after permission was granted for a new pallet factory.

Members of Blackburn with Darwen's planning and highways committee backed the proposals by Michael Davies and Associates Ltd.

The company plans to build a new factory on the site of the former Cardwell Mill, in Albert Street, Mill Hill.

Currently, the firm stores 5,500 pallets at its two units in Waterfall Mill in Queen Victoria Street. The new building will enable it to store up to 26,500 pallets.

The redevelopment will be carried out in three stages, ultimately creating a new warehouse, storage facility and distribution centre for the pallets, which will be despatched around the world.

Paul Brassington, depot operations manager, said it was hoped the first phase would be completed by the end of the year, with the rest of the project to follow on as workload dictated.

He added: "The new staff will cover the whole range from sales and systems to administration and warehousing."

Michael Davies and Associates has been based in Mill Hill for 10 years after moving from Blackpool.

The Environment Agency had expressed concern about the plans on the grounds it involved land prone to flooding when the River Darwen burst its banks.

But councillors agreed to back it on the condition that a boundary wall be built up to prevent flooding.

Surface water drainage will also pass through an oil interceptor to prevent polluted fluid entering the river.