THE East Lancashire headquarters of a leading plumbers merchants is showing the way for their branches across the UK.

Supplies for the James Hargreaves chain nationwide are dispatched daily from their Burnley depot.

And bosses say the Todmorden Road base has just posted record annual sales.

Seventeen thousand product lines and 3.2million units are overseen from the depot.

Adrian Hope, who heads up their trade counter, said: "It’s certainly busy and our figures show that we must be doing something right."

The father-of-two, who has worked there for 14 years, also has a son, Brandon, who works in the warehouse.

And he can also rely on the loyalty of workers such as Bob England, who has been at the branch for nearly 40 years.

Adrian added: "Our seven-strong team here at Burnley totals over 150 years in the business and that experience is invaluable. Once people join the company they tend to stay."

Bill Davies, sales director, added: "Our continuing development across the country in terms of new branches and showrooms is only possible because of our strong base and roots."

The outfit also has outposts in Blackburn, Accrington, Clitheroe, Nelson and Rawtenstall.