PARCELS company Amtrak Express, which has a busy depot serving Blackburn, has reported a buoyant start to the year.

The number of parcels being carried by the company is ahead on last year, according to managing director Will Odling.

"Parcel movements are a barometer of the regional and national economy and on early indications 2001 looks set to be a good year," he said.

"We see Blackburn as a growth area for our nationwide next day operations."

The Blackburn depot is part of Amtrak's network of more than 100 UK sites.