A FAST-GROWING Blackburn business is to create 100 new jobs after its annual sales broke the £100million mark.

Accrol Papers has started to recruit and commercial director Tim Bullough said it could just be the first of many more recruitment drives.

Politicians and business leaders hailed the announcement at the tissue and toilet roll manufacturer as ‘fantastic’ news for the borough.

They said the continued growth of Accrol following a £66million investment deal with Manchester-based private equity firm NorthEdge could encourage other high-profile finance groups to provide cash for local firms with expansion plans.

The new jobs will boost employment at Accrol, which has a state of the art factory at Davyfield on the Roman Road industrial estate, from the current 420 workers.

In 2012 the firm employed just 200 people and 2013 it had 300 workers.

Investment of more than £40million over those two years and last years £66 million deal have seen rapid expansion and jobs growth culminating in this week’s announcement.

The jobs go hand in hand with investment in new machinery and an expected steady profits growth.

Mr Bullough said: “These are new jobs on top of the 420 we already employ.

“Recruitment has started and should be finished later this year.

“If all goes to plan, including a possible new paper mill, there will be more jobs in the pipeline in 2016 and beyond.

“Accrol remains a Blackburn with Darwen-focussed company providing new jobs for the borough.”

New Blackburn MP Kate Hollern said:”I welcome this latest news of 100 additional jobs at Accrol.

“This is a key Blackburn -based employer and it is fantastic to see them continue to expand and take on more people.

“The announcement highlight’s Blackburn’s success in attracting jobs and investment.”

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Mike Damms said: “I am delighted. This is a fast growing and successful company.

“This latest announcement of new jobs following the NorthEdge Captial investment is a good sign which will encourage other outside investors to come to Blackburn, Darwen and East Lancashire providing growth and jobs.

“It is fantastic news.”

Chief executive Majid Hussain, who received an MBE from the Queen in February, revealed sales at the company, which produces brands including Softie, Triple Softie, Mega and Handy, surged 14 per cent to top £100 million in a full 12 months for the first time.

The period covered ran from May 1 2014 to April 30 2015, up from £87.6million in the previous year.

The business, founded in 1993 by the Hussain family, has over the last five years doubled employment and revenues, constructed new buildings and installed new converting lines.

Its latest investment will see manufacturing capacity rise from 80,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes per year.

Mr Hussain, 37, who lives in Blackburn Road, Accrington, said: “We have seen a sustained period of growth in the last five years and exceeding annual sales of £100million is an outstanding achievement.

“We have improved facilities putting the business in a strong position for future growth.”

Blackburn with Darwen regeneration boss Phil Riley said: “Encouraging employment and business growth within the borough are key priorities for the council.

“It is fantastic that another local business is helping to give a further boost to the area and I welcome this great news.”

Khalid Saifullah, chairman of the boroughs’s Hive Business Network and director of Star Tissue in Blackburn, said: “I am absolutely delighted.

“This is fantastic news which will create more jobs in the supply chain and encourage outside investors to look at bringing their money to firms in the borough.”

Accrol chairman Peter Cheung, added: “Accrol’s growing presence in both the premium and discount grocery retail sectors has enabled the business to take advantage of the consumer shift towards great value products without compromising quality.”

Tom Rowley, investment director at NorthEdge Capital, said Accrol had ‘consistently outperformed its competitors’ and is an example of the strength of the region’s manufacturing sector.