Jobs created at packaging company

The Skymark building in Leominster was destroyed in a fire

A packaging manufacturer in Scunthorpe has announced the creation of 35 jobs after its site in Herefordshire was destroyed by fire.

Skymark Performance Films said it was planning to invest more than £3m to expand its site in the town's Mannerberg Way.

The development comes after the fire at Skymark's site in Leominster in June.

The company said it expected some of the positions would be taken up by staff relocating from Leominster.

New printing equipment is being installed in the Scunthorpe factory, which already employs about 70 people.

The jobs were welcomed by North Lincolnshire Council.

'Optimism'

The new posts come in the wake of the announcement by steelmaker Corus that more than 800 jobs were likely to be lost at its Scunthorpe plant.

Dan Richards, sales development manager at Skymark, said: "While we cannot make a big impact on the redundancies taking place in Scunthorpe, we can bring optimism to a significant number of people.

"Following the devastating fire at our Leominster facility, we have already completed our first investment in new equipment to restore lost production. This enables us to offer continued support to our current customers and develop further."

Councillor Mark Kirk, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: "This is without doubt a huge investment in Scunthorpe and is a major boost to the local economy.

"It couldn't come at a better time, with the recent announcement of job losses elsewhere in the town."