AN ENGINEERING firm saved from the clutches of the receiver just two years ago is riding high.

And since being rescued, Warwick & Bailey Engineering has seen its workforce in Blackburn grow from 60 to 102 and now boasts a bulging order book.

A multi-million investment programme is seeing some of the latest equipment installed into the Hall Street factory and a major push into Europe is underway.

And Blackburn MP Jack Straw toured the site to see the transformation since it had crashed into receivership in March 1994.

"Things have really been turned round here," said general manager Danny Gordon. "It has been a lot of hard work but we have concentrated on specialising in our core business and things have gone very well."

The firm manufactures petrol and hydraulic tanks for vehicles ranging for tractors to vans.

Around £1 million has already been invested in the site including the latest robotic welding equipment and more is planned for the future.

Now the firm is looking to Europe to continue its expansion.

"We believe there is a lot of business out there for us to try and tap into and we're starting with France and Germany," said Mr Gordon.

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