A DARWEN firm's expansion plans have been given a stamp of approval to say sales are going 'ausgezeichnet'.

Kershaw's Rubber Stamps, which is based on Railway Road, is adding foreign language messages to its range.

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The firm has sold designs to businesses and schools since 1965 - with teachers using them to print rewards on pupils' homework and offices using them to record dates on documents.

It also provides decorative tools for arts and crafts, with various patterns and messages to personalise cards and gifts, and they are also used by shops to credit loyalty cards.

Some events and bars even use them as 'pass outs' to show someone has paid for entrance.

Now it is commissioning new sets in Welsh, Irish Gaelic, French and even German.

The German ones include ausgezeichnet (excellent), zwei sterne und ein wunsch (two stars and a wish) and sehr gut and gut gemacht, which both mean well done.

Dean Wilkinson, a customer service and sales advisor at Kershaw's, says the potential is global.

He said: "The foreign language stamps are a relatively new re-designed range and as such we haven't many orders yet.

"But we do sell packs of the Welsh language stamps to County Borough Supplies, which is a consortium of Welsh councils.

"Now we want to expand our range into the European market initially and then hopefully if it takes off move on to the international market."

The Gaelic stamps include af fheabhas (excellent), obair mhaith (good work), dha realtai argus ar mian leo (a two star wish) and scribhneoireacht neat, which is praise for neat handwriting.

Welsh pupils can expect gwaith da cadw I fyny (good work, keep it up) and darllenais yn y dosbarth heddiw (I read in class today).

And in France youngsters are given a grande le gardent en haut - a smiling thumbs up.

The business is part of a revitalisation of Railway Road which is home to stylish tapas bar La Salsa and the revitalised Old Chapel pub.

And this week the Lancashire Telegraph reported how Rob McClure, the owner of Prince Hair Salon wants to convert the back of his salon into a hub for the town’s youth to chill out and play computer games.