AN ENGINEERING company has secured its future in East Lancashire after landing a deal with one of the world’s biggest car manufacturers.

The seven-figure contract, understood to be with Toyota, will ensure the Futaba-Tenneco plant, in Liverpool Road, Burnley, is busy for at least the next five years.

The deal is a massive boost for the firm, which less than three years ago put workers on a four-day-week after struggling with orders.

The prestigious tie-up will see Futaba manufacture pressed parts and welded components for the Japanese car giant.

Assistant managing director Kevin Schofield said: "This is not only fantastic news for the company and all its employees, but also for the Burnley area and our supply chain.

"There are not many other companies in this area that can boast of the prospect of several years' work. It is testament to the hard work put in by every single employee."

Futaba said confidentiality rules meant it could not confirm who the new contract was with but it would create 'a number' of new jobs at the plant.

Bosses have already taken on 23 temporary workers to cope with new orders from elsewhere and the existing workforce of 200 is being 'upskilled' to bid for future deals.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said: "This is great news for Futaba-Tenneco and great news for manufacturing in Burnley."” Terry Burns, Unite union representative with responsibility for Futaba, said: "I am really pleased about this.

"It gives the plant a guarantee of at least five years' work, and possibly up to seven years' work.

"The workforce and management have coped brilliantly through the recession and now they have got a secure future."” In 2008, Burnley's Futaba-Tenneco workers were put on a four-day week after the collapse of the world car market in a bid to avoid redundancies.