A NEW firm is set to spark a major jobs boost for East Lancashire.

ARD Electronics has been launched on the Altham industrial estate to distribute electronic components.

The move continues the Duckett family's 60 year association with the industry.

Arnold R Duckett started a radio relay business in East Lancashire in the 1930s.

He was joined by his son Keith at the end of the 1960s.

Keith then established a company distributing electronic components to the television rental industry and to independent retailers.

The business grew to a major player in the market with a turnover of more than £20 million and was bought out by another firm in 1995.

Keith and his two sons Richard and Nicholas have begun their new venture with an initial workforce of 30 people and expect that to increase significantly over the next 12 months.

It supplies customers in many areas, including local government, telecommunications, electrical appliance repairs, computer service companies and hi-fi dealers.

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