A MEAT firm is celebrating a string of awards.

Cranswick Country Foods, of Waterfoot, has recently received industry accolades from the British retail Consortium and Asda.

And now it has been awarded the Investors in People staff training development standard. The firm, which employs 120, produces cooked meat for some of the UK's leading retailers. "Investors in People has provided us with an excellent framework for staff development and empowerment," said Andrew Caines, technical manager.

"Every single one of our employees is now actively involved in the business, seeking out problems and suggesting solutions which benefit it."

Five other organisation have also recently achieved IIP including Henry Court Group plc of Blackburn; Rosegrove Infant School, Burnley; Blackburn's Education and Training Department; the Rossendale Pupil Referral Unit and Lancashire County Council's East Zone learning disabilities team.