TIMBER specialist James Donaldson and Sons Ltd has safeguarded nearly 40 local jobs following its purchase of Palgrave Brown in Brinscall.

As part of the deal James Donaldson has acquired all the land and buildings, plant and machinery and stock from the Palgrave Brown site. In future, the site will trade as Alfred Hulme Ltd, the original name of the company when it started on the current site around 1919.

Palgrave Brown was hit hard by the downturn in the construction industry and went into administration in early November.