Manufacturing jobs have been created and more are in the pipeline at a wool textile firm which has brought back production to West Yorkshire from the Continent.

Laxtons Specialist Yarns, at Guiseley, has set up the first new commercial wool worsted manufacturing plant to be launched in the UK for 25 years.

The family-run business, founded at Oakworth, Keighley, in 1907, has 12 machines featuring the latest specialist spinning technology.

The investment has been acquired with backing from Yorkshire Bank’s West Yorkshire Financial Solutions Centre in Bradford.

The new operation has enabled the firm, led by managing director James Laxton, to bring manufacturing back from Italy, Spain and France.

The company has 14 staff and a multi-million pound turnover and is one of two remaining British-owned specialist yarn manufacturers and the only one able to produce bespoke fancy yarns. The business, founded by Mr Laxton’s great grandfather, George, also makes yarn for machine knitting, woven apparel and upholstery fabric manufacture.

The Italian-designed specialist yarn-production machine acquired with Yorkshire Bank backing, is the first of its kind in the UK and one of only a handful in the world.

It enables Laxtons to combine three spinning technologies to create yarns with more sophisticated variable patterns.

Mr Laxton, 40, said: “We aim to create more jobs by putting on more shifts as demand increases.

“We have brought manufacturing back to the UK to enhance our service with reduced lead times, improved management, better control of raw materials and higher quality. Re-starting commercial wool manufacturing in Yorkshire is a bold move.”

Andy Cook, Yorkshire Bank West Yorkshire FSC business partner, said “We are delighted to have supported Laxtons.”