McBRIDE has ended talks with interested parties concerning a possible sale of the company and says the future of the Burnley factory is safe.

Around 300 people work at the Windermere Avenue site, where household products and detergents are made.

The company announced in June of this year that it was exploring its options which might have included a sale. Now those plans have been shelved after talks with interested parties failed to find a suitable deal.

Mike Handley, chief executive and deputy chairman of McBride said: "It won't make any difference to our Burnley site.

"It is one of our core factories and is a good operation. The future of Burnley is not connected to whether we are selling or not selling.

"It is its own base with its own customers, which is doing well."

Mr Handley confirmed that, for the near future at least, there were no plans that would affect the Burnley factory.

"I can't see into the future, but we have no plans to make any changes in Burnley", he added.

A spokesman for McBride said: "The board have announced after careful consideration it has ceased all talks with interested parties concerning the possible offer for the company.

"The board and its advisers have undergone extensive negotiations but no formal offer has been forthcoming at a level which either the board or its advisers could recommend."

The company announced in August that the trading performance in July and August 2001 had continued in line with the previous year's figures and that sales and products were ahead for the equivalent period of last year.

"The board is pleased to report that this trend has continued in September and October and is confident of a satisfactory outcome to the year," the spokesman added.