NEW jobs are set to be created in East Lancashire after a local carpet firm took over a rival.

Gaskell, based at Altham and with sites across Hyndburn, is cutting around 130 jobs at a mill in Skipton following its recent takeover of Tomkinsons but said the move would lead to new a number of new jobs at its Rishton plant.

The Lancashire-based group said it planned to close its Carleton Mill near Skipton and centralise distribution to cut out duplication created by the takeover.

At the same time weaving operations will be moved from the Tomkinsons plant at Bloxham, Oxfordshire, to Gaskell's site at Rishton in Lancashire. And the firm said the reorganisation would lead to new jobs at the Rishton site.

All distribution will be consolidated at Tomkinsons' warehouse at Kidderminster, Hereford and Worcestershire.

Around 130 jobs will be cut at Bloxham and Carleton as a result of the move.

The reorganisation is due to begin early next year and will take around six months, the company said. Gaskell announced it was buying up Tomkinsons in September for £12.2million.

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