A BUSINESSMAN has stepped in to help save more than 30 jobs of axed staff at outdoor clothing firm Karrimor - and safeguard its manufacturing future in East Lancashire.

Two weeks ago the company announced up to 80 job losses at its Clayton-le-Moors site after it decided to stop manufacturing to cut costs.

The firm, which had recently been taken over by a South African company, said it was planning to outsource production to a factory in the North East.

Now businessman Graham Lord, of Trubend Manufacturing, Bacup, a firm which already supplies Karrimor, has stepped in to keep production of the fleece garments in East Lancashire.

He said: "I thought it would be a shame for the work to go up to the North East when we had the skilled labour here in Hyndburn." After several days of talks with Karrimor's new management team and with redundant employees, a deal has been struck and 34 former Karrimor workers have been offered new jobs.

Mr Lord added: "This wouldn't have been possible without the total co-operation of Karrimor managing director Bill Kelly." Trubend Manufacturing makes nursery products, and Mr Kelly said the success of the existing successful relationship between Karrimor and Trubend Manufacturing was a key factor.

And he said Karrimor applauded the new venture and would support it.

Mr Lord is now looking for suitable premises for the new venture which will be a separate company to his existing firm.

He said he hoped the factory could be up and running within eight weeks.

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