A ROSSENDALE kitchen and bedroom manufacturer has received a top award for the quality of its products.

Bacup-based JJO Plc has received the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) Gold certificate.

It joins companies such as IKEA and Formica Group which have also achieved this status.

Stephen Greenhalgh, managing director of JJO, which employs 350 people, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for JJO.

“We constantly work to ensure that we promote excellence in the manufacture of our kitchens, and this could not be achieved without the combined effort of all of our employees.”

FIRA apply stringent guidelines including in-depth tests, an ongoing annual audit and re-test programme.