ROSSENDALE entrepreneurs Mark Whitfield and Craig Ritson have put their heart and "sole" into their thriving business.

Rossendale based R and M Footwear Components makes more than 10,000 pairs of insoles and shoes soles every week while many other footwear firms have been shedding staff.

Mark and Craig put much of the success of their two-year-old company down to the help they received from the East Lancashire Training and Enterprise Council's Firmbase programme.

Mark said: "I think our degree of flexibility, plus the fact that we received professional help right from the start are the secrets of our success.

ELTEC's Organisational Development Director, Paul Heald, added: "The footwear industry has experienced considerable difficulties in recent years, with the strength of the pound and low cost imports.

"It is encouraging to see new businesses coming forward in this sector, as it would help to retain skills that would otherwise be lost to East Lancashire."

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