SALES and profits at a Blackburn-based wallpaper manufacturer have bounced back after a challenging year in 2015.

Graham & Brown, reported turnover up three per cent to £74.8m and profits up four per cent to £2.5m in 2016.

This compares to £72.8 million and £2.4m for the previous 12 months.

The family-owned company, which was founded in Blackburn in 1946 and exports to 75 countries, said online sales of its products were growing at more than 30 per cent a year.

Last year it reported its 2015 turnover was down by three per cent on the previous year having been hit by challenging financial conditions in Russia.

Andrew Graham, Chief Executive, said increasing e-commerce success and growing sales in the UK, the Far East, South America and India had fuelled the turn round.

Miranda Barker, chief executive of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said: “These results are really good news . They show the long-term resilience of the company and how its business model can bounce back from problems around the world.”

This week Graham & Brown opens its pop-up House of Wallpaper in Soho to coincide with London Fashion Week, London Design Week and International Wallpaper Week, closing down on October 8.

The four-storey building includes a pop-up restaurant in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Pedro Passinhas.

It will also mount exhibitions of the firm’s new ranges and pieces from its 30,000-strong archive collection.

Mr Graham said: “Wallpaper is undergoing a renaissance in the UK with consumers looking to bring more colour, texture and design into their lives.

“Advances in technology - like 'paste the wall' - have also made the process so much easier.

“Abroad, we’re also seeing growing demand for British-made, design-led products, particularly in the Far East, South American and India.

“We delivered another year of solid sales growth last year, thanks to a continuing focus on quality, innovation and design in our product, a clear digital strategy in our sales and distribution, and major investment in our brands.

“We also increased our manufacturing efficiency and reduced operating costs, which improved cash generation and profitability.

“We’re on a mission to take the brand to every wall in the world.”