ONE of East Lancashire’s fastest-growing manufacturers has announced plans to build its own paper mill in Blackburn.

Award-winning toilet roll maker, Accrol Papers, which has its base on the Roman Road Industrial Estate, in Davy Field Road, has just revealed a £66 million deal with private equity firm NorthEdge Capital, that could lead to the creation of hundreds of jobs.

Commercial director Tim Bullough said: “This will accelerate all our plans, one of which is a paper mill.

“We would be looking to locate the paper mill as close to our present location as possible.

“The project would create well in excess of 100 jobs.”

Chief executive office, Majid Hussain said: “The investment from NorthEdge follows a sustained period of growth for the business during the last five years.

“The capital will allow us to accelerate capital expenditure to increase output and ensure that we continue to deliver the highest quality products and services to our customers.” The business, founded in 2003 and established by the Hussain brothers, employs 300 staff and has a turnover of more than £100 million annually.

One of Europe’s largest independent converters of soft tissue products, the business has a manufacturing capacity in excess of 80,000 tonnes per annum.

It manufactures a wide range of household and away-from-home tissue products for a range of leading retailers and service providers.

Partner at NorthEdge Capital, Dan Wright, said: “NorthEdge works exclusively with successful companies and ambitious management teams based in the North of England, and Accrol is no exception; a fast growing business with a significant share of the UK market and an impressive customer base.”