A COMPANY is to create 15 jobs in the borough.

JJO, a multi-million pound company based on Newchurch Road, Bacup, one of largest manufacturers in the UK of kitchens and bedroom furniture, has revealed it is to expand into bathrooms.

The announcement follows 12 months of planning and the expansion is set to lead to the creation of jobs.

The company is already one of Rossendale's biggest employers with more than 450 staff members.

A base for the bathroom business will be set up at the former base of Valley Refrigeration, at Forest Mill, off Henrietta Street.

The site will house the assembly, warehouse, dispatch and sales centre.

It is expected that the bathroom business will contribute £4million to JJO's turnover by the second year of business.

Richard Proctor, sales and marketing director, said: "It's an exciting time for us.

"A bathroom division has been on my wish list for years, to support our loyal dealer network and reach a new base of customers."