A DARWEN firm has rescued a major North West group of companies - and saved 120 jobs. Brookhouse, the India Mill-based tooling and composites company and sponsors of the landspeed record-breaking Thrust Supersonic car, has bought the SPD Group from the receivers.

SPD, which has sites in Stalybridge, Mossley, Dukinfield and Hyde, will boost Brookhouse's annual turnover to around £20 million and increase the total workforce to 370 - making it the largest independent composites manufacturing and assembly company in the UK.

Peter Turner, joint managing director of Brookhouse, said: "We see this acquisition as being very important for the continued growth of our company. SPD has an excellent reputation within the aerospace industry.

"We believe that this capability, together with SPD's expertise in tooling and its experience in assembling large structures will now allow Brookhouse to offer an even better and more comprehensive service to the aerospace industry and other important market sectors."

Peter's brother and business partner Barry Turner added: "This move conforms to our objectives of being able to offer our customers the most comprehensive package of services in composites manufacturing and assembly in the country."

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