TWO of East Lancashire's biggest employers today reported healthy results after their 'divorce' earlier this year.

Christmas and greetings cards manufacturer Creative Publishing said festive orders were higher this year following its October separation from Fine Art Developments.

Both reported their first half year results since they were created by Fine Art Developments splitting in two.

The firms include East Lancashire businesses such as Express GIfts, Hambledon Studios and Delgado. Creative said its performance was up with improved results for the first half of the year to September with a six month pre-tax loss of £4.9 million after spending on the merger and losing £2 million in ordinary trading.

Creative said retail sales were up in the UK but suffered overseas from the strong pound.

Fine Art Developments said profits were also up and its troubled Home Shopping arm had improved. It made a pre-tax loss of £12.4 million with underlying profits of £3 million.

Shareholders will receive an interim dividend of 3.9p, up slightly on the previous 3.7p.

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