Firm's sale could safeguard jobs

The sale of a major engineering firm in Norfolk to an American businessman in a £4.1m deal could help safeguard jobs.

Laurence Scott and Electromotors, which has operated in Norwich since the 1880s, was to close its city factory, its parent company FKI said in January.

Work was to switch to sites in other parts of the country.

But on Tuesday FKI said it had sold the firm to George Clare who said the possibilities for the firm, which employs 250 staff, were "unlimited".

No promises

Tony Collins, the managing director of Laurence Scott and Electromotors (LSE), welcomed news of the take-over, which will save the Gothic Works site from closure.

He said George Clare hoped to sell LSE's products in the United States and it also allows the new owners to tap into the European market.

However Mr Collins did warn that LSE had been a loss-making business, and that it needed to be turned around.

He said he could not promise that all jobs were safe.