AN internationally-renowned Rossendale company with a £12million turnover could move out of the Valley if plans to find a bigger home are blocked.

Geo-technical engineering specialist, Pennine Group, wants to site its new corporate HQ at Futures Park, as well as retaining its site at New Line, in Bacup.

But if its bid for building land in Bacup is rejected by the council, the company say it will have no choice but to leave Rossendale.

The Pennine Group, which employs 120 people, would keep its New Line site for servicing and maintenance of plant machinery. Its chairman, Andy Russell, said: "There is no viable alternative. We have examined all the other possibilities."

The award-winning company was set up by Andy and fellow director David Mitchell, who met while at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.

Mr Russell added: "We are committed to Rossendale, 80 per cent of our employees are from the area, but we cannot afford to be sentimental.

"We need to develop at Futures Park, which is the only available site of sufficient quality and profile to meet our environmental requirements.

"This would immediately create 35 new jobs, with more to follow."

The company has submitted a formal offer for a site on Futures Park and have drawn up plans, which will go a council sub-committee on June 3.

Gillian Bishop, deputy chief executive of Rossendale Council, said the council and partners of futures park were meeting at the sub-committee and no decision on the site had been made.