AN East Lancashire firm is planning global expansion after it was bought out by Europe's leading work clothing company in a multi-million pound deal.

Altham-based corporate uniform manufacturer Simon Jersey, has been acquired by the Swedish-owned Kwintet group, as part of the deal which has seen the firm buy five clothing businesses from German group KarstadtQuelle.

The company, based in Sykeside Drive, employs 225 staff and has sales of around £23million.

Clients include Emirates Airlines, P&O Cruises, Hertz and Avis vehicle hire.

Strict confidentiality agreements have been signed preventing the cost of the deal being announced but it is estimated to be worth several millions of pounds.

The deal will allow Simon Jersey to increase its range of products in a bid to attract more blue chip clients throughout the world.

The company was bought by Malmo-based Kwintet as part of the deal which saw it take over the Mercatura group from KarstadtQuelle.

Neil Boston, sales and marketing director for Simon Jersey, said: "This is a very exciting time for the company.

"The Kwintet group focuses solely on uniforms and we now have an unprecedented level of expertise on which we can draw.

"Kwintet are very strong in workwear for industry workers, whereas Simon Jersey and other parts of the Mercatura group are leaders in corporate clothing.

"The management team at Simon Jersey sees this as the start of a new era for the company.

"It gives us access to new international markets and allows us to work alongside other Kwintet companies on contracts to supply a complete range of clothing from personal protective equipment to tailored uniforms.

"Being part of a group with a combined turnover of 725 million euros (approximately £520million) gives us incredible buying power which will help us keep down costs for our customers."

Simon Jersey was founded in 1971 by entrepreneur Simon Moyle as a family firm employing just three staff working with local pubs and hotels.

The firm serves about 50,000 customers each year, and in total delivers more than 2.8million pieces of uniform to clients.

In 2002 Mr Moyle sold the firm to KarstadtQuelle group, Europe's largest department store and mail order chain.