MORE than 500 people applied for nearly 100 jobs at a new multi-million pound business set to open in Burnley in September.

Cornwell Parker PLC, the furniture, fabrics and wallcoverings group, is centralising its warehouse and distribution at the Network 65 business park in Hapton.

Managing director Brian Edwards said Burnley was the ideal choice. "We wanted to relocate close to our suppliers, the skills we need are available in the area and the land is at the right price."

About half of the 95-strong workforce has been recruited and interviews are due to take place over the next few weeks to fill the remaining vacancies.

Builders should hand over the £4.5m development to the firm this month and it will be fitted out before stock is moved in from other locations in August. Warehousing and distribution functions from Monkwell at Bournmouth and GP & J Baker at High Wycombe will be relocated to the new site. The new staff will travel to those locations to be trained.

Mr Edwards said: "We were inundated with applications for jobs when we advertised the vacancies in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

"There will be some limited manufacturing on the site, but mostly it will be warehousing, purchasing and distribution. We purchase a lot of our textiles from France and Italy so we asked applicants for an understanding of those languages and about a third of our business is export."

Burnley beat around 30 locations in the north which were vying for the company's business.

The site will be able to store 100,000 rolls of fabric and will be responsible for major brands including Parker Knoll fabrics.

The company has a manufacturing base in Padiham at K Raymakers but this is not affected by the move.

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