A MERGER to create one of the country's largest specialists in economic development has been completed.

Shareholders in the firm Enterprise, which is involved in projects across East Lancashire, have voted in favour of the deal to merge with ARM Services group.

The new company will have a workforce of more than 800 and a combined turnover of £120million. It will have its headquarters in Leyland. The Enterprise name is being kept although ARM will still use its own name for its work in providing maintenance services to utility companies.

The chairman of the merged company is Owen McLaughlin, formerly chief executive of ARM and the new chief executive is Sean Keogh, former operations director of ARM.

Michael Hynes, who was chief executive of Enterprise, has been appointed executive director.

"The merger has created a major support services business, providing a range of management service to customers in a number of different markets," said Mr McLaughlin.