A BATHROOM firm founded in Burnley is moving 85 staff out of the town after selling its premises in Widow Hill Road.

Ultra Finishing, whose unofficial motto is ‘Burnley jobs for Burnley people’, will transfer 75 office and 10 production staff to sites in Bolton and Halifax by January 2016.

The company said there would be no redundancies as a result of the changes.

Ultra Finishing said it had offered reduced working hours and a pay increase to offset the additional time and cost of travelling the 18 miles to Halifax or 20 miles to Bolton.

Some office staff already spend time at the other sites as part of their working week.

The firm was started by Steven Heys in Elm Street in 1982 and became a successful and expanding enterprise, employing hundreds in Burnley.

In 2012, Ultra Finishing bought Halifax-based bathroom company Niko Distribution and the following year Mark Two in Bolton.

A spokesman for the firm said: “We can confirm we have sold the Burnley premises to a local company with exciting expansion plans.

“We did consider relocating to another site in the Burnley area. However, it was decided the business would continue to be disjointed.

“We are in a position where we have other premises to which we could relocate; there are benefits not just from a cost perspective, but also as part of the objective to consolidate teams.

“Therefore, the proposal is to relocate departments to our other premises at either Bolton or Halifax.

“The great news is that we can accommodate all staff and roles in our other sites.

“The priority is to work with staff and support them in this transition.”

“For those who don’t drive, a return bus has been proposed to and from the Halifax siteand employees are also considering car-share options.”

Cllr Margaret Lishman is representative for the Briercliffe ward in which the business lies.

She said: “It’s very sad to see a long-established firm, which was formed in Burnley and employed many local people, leaving the area.

“Any loss of jobs from the town is extremely disappointing and I’m saddened they have not been able to stay.”

Ultra Finishing announced losses of more than £11million in their 2014 accounts.

They later said that this was no surprise and largely down to over-investment in Mark Two Distribution Ltd.