Broomhill Home Furnishings, a Co Down company, has announced plans to invest £2.9 million sterling in new production facilities at its factory in Magheralin, near Lurgan. Broomhill, which makes bedlinen and co-ordinated accessories such as duvet covers and quilted throws, is aiming to increase exports to the UK and the Republic. The investment is expected to create more than 30 new jobs over the next three years.

Broomhill is a family-run company founded in the 1950s by Mr Alexander Irwin. The founder's grandson and current managing director, Mr Gary Irwin, said the business had undergone an eightfold increase in the past eight years, and its workforce had grown from less than 40 employees to more than 120. The current turnover of the company is close to £10 million.

"We are looking to increase our export volumes considerably over the next three years," Mr Irwin said. "At present we sell nearly 70 per cent of our output to Britain, with small volumes going into overseas markets like Scandinavia, Australia, and New Zealand. Another 20 per cent is sold into the Republic, mainly to stores like Brown Thomas and Arnott's."

The investment is being supported by a grant of £416,000 from the IDB. The agency's deputy chief executive, Mr Mike Bohill, described Broomhill as one of the fastest-growing bedlinen brands in the UK.