NEWLY-formed contract carpet manufacturing company Gaskell Ltd is on a roll after taking over a major carpet company in the North East.

Just a month ago 145 employees involved in manufacturing and supplying carpets were facing redundancy after Gaskell plc, based on the Junction 7 Business Park, Clayton-le-Moors, went into administration.

But a week later the jobs were secured with a successful management buyout of Gaskell's core manufacturing business to form Gaskell Ltd.

The new contract carpet manufacturing firm, which has now been up and running for a month, has taken a step forward by acquiring the assets of Hugh Mackay Carpets of Durham, to form Gaskell Mackay Ltd.

Gerry Wheeler, chief executive of Gaskell Mackay Ltd, has welcomed Steve Cowie, former MD of Hugh Mackay, onto the board of directors and they are now planning to increase the workforce by 10 per cent.

Gaskell Ltd already supplies carpets to hotels, pubs, casinos and clubs including Ewood Park but will now take on Hugh Mackay's client list, which includes Caesar's Palace Casino, Las Vegas, and the Houses of Parliament.

It is also the Royal Warrant Holder for the supply of carpets to her Majesty's Royal Households.

Production has stepped up at Gaskell's carpet weaving facilities at Wheatfield Mill in Rishton, which will become the head office of Gaskell Mackay Ltd and looms from Hugh Mackay's Durham factory are to be transferred to the mill.

Mr Wheeler said: "With the addition of Hugh Mackay's business expertise, manufacturing capacity and production base this is very much a stronger business than it was a few weeks ago.

"What we have here in Rishton is a well-trained, experienced workforce and a world- class manufacturing plant. Our carpets are traditional products but we produce them in a highly advanced manner and we achieve exceptional efficiencies and speed of manufacturing.

"The future lies in customisation and we are at the forefront of manufacturing bespoke designs for individual customers. We will continue to build on past success in this area and really exploit our technical advantage.

"With the addition of Hugh Mackay's export business we are going to become a much more prominent player on the international stage and the importance of our export sales will increase substantially as we move forward.

"Carpets made here in Rishton will be seen in hotels, palaces, mosques, casinos and government properties across the world."