NEARLY 160 new jobs could be created with the expansion of a supermarket abbatoir operation on the edge of Colne.

Retail giant Morrison's says its meat processing operation at Woodhead Bros, on the Whitewalls Industrial are currently working at over capacity.

Bosses have now unveiled plans to increase their activities at the plant, off Junction Street, which they say will generate 150 new vacancies.

The Morrison's owned abbatoir, which delivers pre-packed meat products to stores across the region, already employs 678 workers in Colne.

Residents have previously complained of odour problems there, particularly in warm weather.

Demolition is planned for a number of buildings to the west side of Junction Street currently associated with the meat processing unit, including skins sheds and storage facilities.

Under the proposed scheme, a new three-storey building would be erected, with car parking, and a number of internal changes made to the business.

The despatch, coldstore and packaging sections would be transferred from the eastern side of the site.

Transferring across will be 114 existing staff, who will be joined by the new recruits.

The supermarket chain has drawn up a travel plan for the workforce, which mainly operates across two shifts, from 6am until 2pm and 2pm until 10pm.

A Morrisons spokesman says in a report to Pendle council: "The factory prepares and packages meat for sale in our food stores and includes its own abbatoir.

"Livestock is brought in from the surrounding agricultural and then the finished product is taken to Morrison's distribution depots."

The proposals have already raised an objection from the Environment Agency as the new building is sited over a culvert.

Philip Carter, a planning liaision officer for the agency, says: "The proposed development is located over Swinden Clough, which is a culverted main river watercourse and is subject to byelaws.

"In particular no trees or shrubs may be planted, nor fencing, buildings, pipelines or any other structure erected over the culvert, or within eight metres from the edge, without our prior written consent."

Mr Carter accepts that a flood risk assessment has been drawn up by the applicants, which mentions diverting the culvert, but he has seen no evidence of how this would be done.

The plans are set to be considered by Pendle council's Colne area committee in the coming weeks.