THE CWV Group which owns Crown Wallcoverings in Darwen has defended its decision to move its production out of the town, claiming the move is the best one it could have made.

A spokesman for CWV Group today said that closing the Darwen site of Crown Wallcoverings was the right decision to save the company and that half of the local employees would be offered a transfer.

He said: "The CWV Group saved the Imperial Decor Group when it was in receivership and on the verge of going bust with the risk of 100 jobs being lost forever.

"By acquiring the company, CWV has made real cash investment and has shown its commitment to the whole of Lancashire area especially Darwen where it is siting 110 jobs by moving the new head office to the town.

"The company clearly had its problems because it wouldn't have been in receivership otherwise. Belgrave Mill was already 80 per cent closed down by the receivers. Only two machines out of 20 were running when CWV took it over. CWV has saved the company but it has had to restructure it to ensure its survival.

"This is all subject to consultation and is likely to lead to the closure of the Darwen plant but nearly half of the 100 jobs are being transferred to Morecambe and considering it is creating 110 jobs at the new head office that means a net increase in the total jobs in Darwen.

"CWV had to act to save the whole company. If it hadn't stepped in the factory would probably have had to close anyway and the whole of the company would have gone."

An employee, who did not want to be named, said the workforce had been told that jobs would be available at Morecambe and at CWV's Hyde site.