A BED springs manufacturer has launched a £2million expansion after signing a 10-year deal with industry giant Silentnight.

Bosses at Leggett and Platt, in Barnoldswick, said the deal secures 36 jobs and comes after they beat off competition from Germany and Turkey to seal the exclusive agreement to supply springs to bed manufacturers Silentnight, also based in Barnoldswick.

The deal, added to the sale of land at the back of their Ravenscroft Way site to supermarket giant Tesco, means the firm will now be investing in a refurbishment of parts of its site.

Anthony Joyce, managing director of Leggett and Platt, said: “This will safeguard 36 jobs and I think it will give us the potential to grow by another 25per cent. It is positive for the area.”

Mr Joyce backed the plans for a 3,344 square metre Tesco store, saying it would be good for the town.

He said: “We are very supportive of the Tesco application.

“We see it as a great boost for the town. It will provide 175 jobs for mostly local people and will mean more money being spent in the town.”

The money from the sale of the land, which will be dependent on Tesco receiving planning permission in the next few weeks, will help to fund the redevelopment of parts of the remaining Leggett and Platt site.

They will create a new state-of-the-art warehouse to help with the supply of pocket springs to Silentnight on a just-in-time basis.

Mr Joyce said: “We had to beat off stiff competition for the contract, including bids from German and Turkish companies.

“But what we have achieved is a major step forward, and is a vote of confidence in UK manufacturing and principally our continued presence in Barnoldswick.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to continue our expansion plans in Barnoldswick, and develop the current site to meet the demand requirements of Silentnight.”