AS MANY as 80 new jobs will be created when one of the biggest textile distribution centres in Europe opens on the outskirts of Hapton.

The warehouse, on the Network 65 Business Park at junction 9 of the motorway, is being built on a six acre site at a cost of £4.5 million.

Owners Cornwell Parker is a furniture, fabrics and wallcoverings group with companies throughout Europe. The Padiham firm K. Raymakers is part of the organisation.

When the warehouse opens in August it will house more than 100,000 rolls of fabric.

Twenty of the new jobs will be office-based, with a further 60 in textiles and distribution.

Managing director Brian Edwards said: "The new customer service and distribution centre will be responsible for worldwide distribution of such major brands as Parker Knoll Fabrics, Monkwell, GP and J Baker and Fardis.

"At £4.5 million this is the largest investment we have ever made in our wallpaper and fabric brands. It demonstrates our commitment to build our brands across Europe and the world.

"We chose Burnley because it is at the centre of the UK's traditional textile manufacturing industry and gives us access to the specialised skills we need.

"The location offers excellent worldwide transport links by land, sea and air. Burnley also gives us access to the region's most modern telecommunications infrastructure."

The firm has been given a grant from the Burnley Challenge Fund and will be signing up for the borough's Employment and Training Charter, which focuses on areas of the town hardest hit by unemployment.

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