FOOTWEAR factory J H Hirst, Waterfoot, has been sold, but the business still faces an uncertain future. The purchase, by local firm B & E Boys, should prove a welcome jobs boost to the area with the development site for industrial units, but the future of the scaled-down footwear firm is uncertain as accountants KPMG come to the end of their six-month revival package.

Mike Seary of KPMG, said: "We have been complimented by suppliers to the company that it is the most efficient production unit in the UK.

"Our six months is up in mid-April and we have got the company into a state where it can make money. The only thing we can't impact is orders and if the company doesn't have orders I assume the creditors will be asking to shut it down."

In its heyday J H Hirst employed hundreds at its Whitewell works, but the company now only occupies a fifth of the large factory, with a workforce of just 75. B & E Boys director John Boys, said: "We have already had a lot of interest from companies in Rossendale wishing to relocate or in need of extra space and also from businesses wanting to move into the Valley, so we will be creating new jobs."

The factory is the third in a row on Burnley Road East to be taken over by B & E Boys, whose offices are also in Waterfoot. The company owns Globe and Albion Mills, which are occupied by a wide variety of small businesses, and an arts centre.

Mr Boys added: "It is a natural progression for us and an opportunity we could not afford to miss, we thought we could really do something with the building.

"There will be a substantial investment over a number of years and we will be opening up loading access to all of the floors, which will involve losing some of the floor space, but will improve traffic problems in the long term."

B & E Boys already owns business parks at Toll Bar, Stacksteads, Hugh, Waterfoot, and Alliance, Accrington, has units and offices in Bacup, Stacksteads and Waterfoot and plans to develop the former pensioners' centre in Rawtenstall over the next two years.

New units are being built at Toll Bar and Hugh and the company has recently bought five acres at Appleby Street, Blackburn.

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