Jobs safeguarded at bed factory

Hundreds of jobs have been safeguarded at a Cumbria bed factory with a £2m investment.

About 400 full and part-time workers are employed at the Sealy bed factory in Aspatria.

The plant's American parent company is ploughing £2m into the plant.

Managing director Jim Harrower said the move would safeguard jobs and enable it to better compete globally.

He said the Cumbria plant was celebrating record orders, despite growing numbers of foreign imports.

It is hoped the investment will also mean more full time jobs on offer at the factory, which makes beds under the Silentnight brand.

The plant, which produces around 3,500 beds a week, was recently extended with a £1m investment and officially opened by the Duchess of Gloucester.