Carpets firm to re-open

Two of the firm's County Down plants closed earlier this year

A County Down carpet factory is to re-open with the creation of 100 jobs.

It is understood 100 jobs are to be created in Donagahadee with the re-opening of the Carpets International factory, four months after it went into receivership.

Last August, the company employed close to 300 people in the town and more than 100 at its plant in Killinchy, but over a period of weeks all the workers at both factories were laid off.

It is understood that while there is no reprieve for Killinchy, 100 people will be taken on as the result of a management buyout of the Donaghadee operation.

It is known that managers have been in discussion with the receivers for some time and have put together a plan that has persuaded investors to back the business.

The package includes significant support from Invest Northern Ireland.

It is thought that because workers were made redundant they cannot be automatically taken back on and will have to re-apply for their jobs.

However, it will create badly needed employment opportunities for at least some of those who lost out at the time of closure.