ULTRAFRAME today reported record sales and a jump in profits as it continued its success in the City.

The latest good news from Clitheroe's biggest employer saw its shares edge up to be almost treble the price they were when they floated on the stock market less than two years ago.

That means employees who have held on to the average shareholding worth £20,000 will have made a £40,000 paper profit.

The firm, which last week announced the departure of managing director Ian Robinson, made pre-tax profits of £8.05 million in the six months to April 2 - 16.6 per cent up on last year. Sales grew by 6.2 per cent to £27.71 million.

And chairman Don Greenhalgh said the conservatory roofing firm, which employs more than 600 people in Clitheroe, had made a strong start to 1999 with record sales in the third quarter of the financial year.

He said the last six months had seen major achievements by the firm including the launch of a joint venture with an American firm to make and sell conservatory and sunroom products in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

The firm had also launched 67 new products and since September 1998 18 patent applications have been lodged bringing the total granted or pending to 108.

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