A MASSIVE jobs boost was unveiled today after a firm announced it was expanding into East Lancashire.

Just months after Leoni, in Pickup Street, Accrington, closed with the loss of more than 500 jobs, Halifax based quality control firm Brand Support Services has announced it is moving into the building, bringing with it some 250-300 jobs.

The firm plans to move into the giant 120,000 sq ft mill, which it has renamed Union Mills Business Centre, by Easter, initially creating 100 jobs with another 150-200 to follow soon afterwards.

Brand Support Services, which fixes faulty imported goods and customer returns and boasts a portfolio of blue chip clients, bought the site last week.

Company director Gavin Mellor said today: "We need to expand the business and Hyndburn was the obvious place to do it.

"We hope to be in by Easter and we will also be sub-letting part of the mill to other businesses. We hope that can happen as soon as possible."

The posts being created include packaging, customer services and office staff, forklift truck drivers and telephonists.

The announcement is a massive boost for Hyndburn's business leaders, who were left reeling when Leoni, which had bought Lucas Rists just months before promising to build up the business, announced it was taking the order book to Romania.

Initially 560 jobs were earmarked for the chop, but following desperate talks between council workers and the firm's management, an agreement was made to relocate some 60 posts to a smaller unit in the Altham Industrial Estate.

When the factory finally closed in November, nearby shopkeepers feared it would sound the final death knell for their business as well. Brand Support Services will be using 80,000 sq ft of the building and subletting the remaining 50,000 sq ft.

Mr Mellor added: "Our company has been in Halifax for 21 years but we are happy to come here knowing that we are bringing fresh skills and opportunities for people with us.

Former employees of Leoni now hope they will get first pick at the new jobs.

Hyndburn mayoress Sandra Hayes, who agreed to leave early from Leoni to concentrate on her mayoral engagements with her husband Doug, welcomed the jobs boost.

She said: "There were so many sad people when Leoni closed, it was like breaking up one big family.

"It is brilliant to see that the building has not been left empty for too long.

"This is good news all round and hopefully it will mean some of the people who lost their jobs at Leoni will be able to come back."