BOSSES at an Accrington factory are celebrating, after landing a £1m contract to supply rubber equipment to a Yorkshire company.

The deal will mean eight extra jobs at the Metflex factory, Queen Street, Great Harwood, who will supply Renold Hi-Tec Couplings, a Halifax-based engineering company, with power transmission equipment.

It took two months for bosses to hammer out the contract after Renold bosses found out about the Great Harwood factory by looking at its Internet site.

Metflex general manager Michael Barratt, described the deal as 'fantastic' for the factory which currently employs 140 people and has been operating in Hyndburn since 1941.

He said: "This is clearly a fantastic opportunity for us.

"Up to now, we have been known as a supplier of gas meter diaphragms and parts for hi-fi speakers and this is our first venture into the power transmission market.

"We will be investing in personnel, facilities and research to ensure the contract is continued into the long term."

An upbeat Mr Barrett added: "We have already taken on five extra people and will be giving three more people jobs in the near future.

"We really feel our future is good, despite the problems of the UK manufacturing sector.

"We are achieving that by switching to high tech, low volume products, where there is little competition from Far Eastern countries."

Renold managing director Bob Townsend, said: "We are happy to find a local source which meets our criteria for technical competence, good service and quality control.

"We were very impressed with this company's commitment when we met them."

Dave Green, spokesman for The Knitwear, Footwear and Apparel Trades Union, who have members at the factory, said he was delighted with the news.

He added: "It is excellent for the area, especially as manufacturing jobs are disappearing at an alarming rate all over the country."