A £21million project by a supermarket giant to bring an extra 7,000 pigs to Pendle each week has passed its final hurdle.

Plans have been approved to expand the Woodhead Brothers abbatoir operation, off Junction Street, Colne, after residents’ concerns were overcome.

An extra 4,445 square metres of space would be created at the site, including a new abbatoir, boiler house and chiller building.

No extra jobs would be created at the factory, which is wholly owned by the Morrison’s chain, as a result of the moves.

But the introduction of state-of-the art machinery at Woodhead Bros would allow thousands more livestock to be processed there.

The plant, which employs around 830 people, currently already deals with 24,000 pigs each week. The supermarket is looking to take a lead with its fresh food division.

Coun Tony Greaves said: “There were concerns from residents living on Burnley Road but I think that everyone is satisified that it will not cause any real problems.

“All of the extra deliveries and development work that will take place will be coming via Regent Street so it will not affect people generally.”

An exhibition was held by abbatoir bosses to explain the rationale behind the scheme, which would also see two temporary accesses established off Junction Street, while the redevelopment is ongoing.

The last major expansion at Woodhead Bros, in 2008, saw an additional 160 slaughtermen posts created.