A WOODWORK firm is to relocate to Darwen after receiving planning permission by councillors.

Pendle Woodcraft (Blackburn) Ltd, currently based at Church, is to take over the Cotton Hall Street Mill later this year.

The building was previously a storage and warehouse facility for Accrued Plastics.

Planning and highways councillors approved the change of use so that the building could be used for light industrial purposes.

The firm makes items such as cabinets as well as supplying wooden plinths to breweries for their bar-top beer pumps.

Objections were received from residents in Lomax Street and Richmond Park, both of which overlook the new site..

Letters stated that the three different firms which had used the site over the last nine years had caused noise nuisance problems for them.

Environmental health officers confirmed complaints against the previous owners had been received but said that as long as certain conditions were imposed, they would have no objection to the new scheme.

Conditions included restricting opening hours and installing soundproofing inside the factory.

A report to the councillors stated that industrial use in a residential area was generally not permitted, but strict conditions attached to approving the application, and the fact the firm had a good track record with neighbours near to their Church base, would make the plan acceptable in the eyes of officers.

Coun Paul Browne, a Lib Dem councillor, said: "I am pleased to see new jobs coming into the town."