ONE of Lancashire's last remaining weaving firms is investing £2.5million in a bid to secure its future.

Herbert Parkinson, based on Monton Road, Darwen, produces thousands of soft furnishings as a wholly-owned subsidiary of high street store chain John Lewis.

The firm, which operates 16 looms, is one of just a handful of firms left in the county which still weave, including James Thornber Ltd in Clitheroe and JH Birtwistle and Co Ltd, Haslingden, also owned by John Lewis.

Today the managing director estimated the investment should keep the factory running in the competitive market for at least 15 years.

Patricia Selley said: "If Lancashire weaving is going to compete with foreign weaving when we have to be as quick and as good as they are.

"A lot of the investment overseas is very state-of-the-art as well and we have to take them on.

"We are finding now that as there are so few UK weavers left that we are getting quite a few requests from companies who want to keep their cloth UK produced and we are lucky in that we have the support of our relatively local dyers, based in Scotland, Manchester and Huddersfield."

The firm was founded in the 1930s before being bought by John Lewis Partnership to produce its own fabric designs.

It was originally based in Orchard Mill, Darwen, and in 1960 moved to Sunnyhurst Mill. Herbert Parkinson now employs more than 230 workers known as partners and now has vacancies for about six more.

The factory produces bespoke furnishings including curtains and cushions, supplying each of the 26 John Lewis shops around the country.

More than 2,000 pairs of curtains are produced each week, and the investment has seen changes across the aging factory, with work set to finish in March.

The investment centralised staff to the one location, from a workroom at JH Birtwistle, Haslingden, and a number of staff chose not to move.

But the building now has a new roof, new gas central heating system, and better overall working conditions for staff. A mezzanine level of new offices has been constructed within the factory, and a warehouse and proper docking facility has been built.

An old boiler and coal store has been removed, and machinery changed around to create a more efficient layout.

Mrs Selley revealed the future of the firm is in the hands of its employees.

She said: "I don't pull the punches with the team here.

"I think the investment we have made here is to secure this building and the fabric of the building for at least 15 years or more.

"It is up to us and the partners here to make sure that we react to the trends and the market. There is no guarantee these days."