AMERICAN engineer Wayne Lenander has swapped the forests and lakes of Minnesota for the rolling hills of Ribble Valley.

He is the new manager at 3M Neotechnic's manufacturing site in Clitheroe.

Wayne comes from a small town 200 miles from 3M's global headquarters in St Paul, Minnesota, where he first started working for the company in 1985 as a development engineer.

Although he has visited the UK on business, this is the first time he will be based here, along with wife Heather and teenage children Andrew and Brittany.

"We're really looking forward to it. We enjoy the outdoor activities that Minnesota has to offer and it certainly looks like East Lancashire will have similar opportunities.

"Clitheroe is in a great location and I'm sure we'll love living here," he said.

3M Neotechnic is one of Clitheroe's major companies, employing 300 in the manufacture of aerosol valves and components for the pharmaceutical industry.