SALES at Blackburn bus maker Optare halved in the first half of the year, with bosses blaming the collapse of the UK market.
Turnover was £27.1million in the first six months of 2010, compared with £52.1million during the same period in 2009.
However, the company saw pre-tax losses narrow from £3.9million to £2.7million.
Bosses at the firm, based in Lower Philips Road, Whitebirk, said that they expected performance in the business to improve during 2011 and 2012 as demand for buses increases.
They also said a ‘strategic partnership’ with Indian-controlled automotive firm Ashok Leyland would put Optare in a stronger position.
Optare’s £24.4million order book, meanwhile, is in better shape than this time last year, when it stood at £8.8million.
The bus maker is currently in the process of switching 50 of its 210 Blackburn staff to its Leeds base.
However, chief executive Jim Sumner last month said Optare was ‘absolutely’ committed to East Lancashire.
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