A HAULAGE company is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a new special truck.
Earl Transport, which has bases in Clayton-le-Moors and Oswaldtwistle, has a specially-adorned Renault T High in its fleet to mark four decades in business.
Started by Peter Hughes and Geoff Newlove in 1978, the firm was named after its first base, Earl Street in Clayton-le-Moors, with just two trucks.
And 40 years later, the firm has more than 20 trucks on the road and 26 employees.
Mr Hughes said the new truck was a small gesture to mark four decades on the road.
He said: “We service the grocery trade, helping supermarkets move their products around the country. We do a little bit in Europe but our main customers are in the UK.
“We offer a quality service to very loyal and local customers and it’s that approach that has seen us become a success. 
“The last 40 years have been a whole lot of hard work by great employees and we are all very happy to have got through to this milestone.”
And Earl Transport is a real family business as Peter’s daughter, Rhian, not only runs the back office team but is also a driver.
She has an HGV licence and a CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) and sometimes gets back behind the wheel.
Mr Hughes said: “She doesn’t often have to get on the road but she does occasionally.
“It’s very handy to have her available but she’s more back office these days.”