Keighley company Trico, which went into receivership at the end of July with the loss of 59 jobs, is back in business under new ownership.

The vitreous enamelling firm, which moved to new premises at Crossflatts only weeks before it went into receivership, has been acquired from receivers Price Waterhouse & Cooper by Mariner Holdings Plc for an undisclosed sum.

So far 35 workers from the old company have been re-employed.

New chairman Keith Dunk says: "I can see the possibility of re-employing some more, although there is no real prospect of ever reaching the previous staffing levels."

Trico - The Rustless Iron Company - was based at Lawkholme Lane in Keighley for 112 years before the move to Crossflatts in May. Mr Dunk says the move overstretched the firm financially, especially after it hit technical problems with new equipment brought in from Germany.

Production stopped for three weeks after Trico went into receivership, but the firm was acquired by Mariner Holdings and output has already exceeded previous levels, with less than half the original workforce.

Mr Dunk said: "We lost some customers while production was halted, but they are coming back.''

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