A TEXTILE firm has become the first in the country to win an environmental accolade.

Gaskell Textiles, of Accrington, has been awarded the ISO14001 European environmental standard for industry.

The award follows the firm's success in cutting levels of pollution, waste and energy use. "It is a real honour to be recognised in this way but we feel it is essential for manufacturing companies to start taking more responsibility in this regard," said manufacturing director Ian Ramsay.

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