A COMPANY committed to health, safety and the environment has earned a top award.

Now bosses and staff at A&E Threads at Bankside Mills in Radcliffe are celebrating after scooping the honour at Groundwork Bury's annual environmental awards.

The firm won the Health, Safety and Environmental Management award at the event held at the Longfield Suite in Prestwich.

The company has introduced a comprehensive induction for all new employees, monthly talks concentrating on health and safety, and engaged the services of a specialised support company for staff travelling abroad.

A & E Threads set environmental and performance targets and the company regularly outperforms other businesses in their sector.

The Radcliffe business, which employs 71, dyes and finishes sewing threads for the industrial market, being used in famous-make jeans, three-piece suites and all kinds of clothing.

Director of manufacturing, Mrs Sue Muckle, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award and it's wonderful to receive it. We took part in the awards last year and got highly commended. That gave us an extra burst for this year.

"We have earned this for the health and safety aspects of our work and for our personnel training. We do individual job analysis and also make health and safety and environment training part of orientation."

The firm's parent company is based in the USA and has 32 subsidiaries worldwide.