MORE than 100 jobs have been saved at a garage door firm that was under threat of closure before Christmas.

PC Henderson was faced with having to close on March 15, leading to 150 possible redundancies if a solution to its problems were not found.

But now the firm, based in Bowburn, near Durham City, has been preserved after being bought by Nick Sibley, the owner of rival firm Cardale, based in Northamptonshire, for an undisclosed sum.

The company will trade as Bowburn Ltd, but still sell under the Henderson brand in the UK.

Managing director Vicky Brockley said the deal, signed at the end of last month, would protect the future of the plant’s workforce.

She said: “We really are delighted. The announcement said we would be closed unless we found a solution.

“We have been working very hard over Christmas and the New Year to find a solution and we signed a deal on December 31. The new owner will take over the business and continue producing from this site. It is a perfect partnership, Hendersons is strong in the North and they are strong in the South and it secures the jobs.”

A second side of the business at Bowburn, dealing with sliding and folding door hardware for industrial use, and employing a further 40 people, was “very profitable” and not under threat.

It will remain part of Swedish parent company, the Cardo Door group, which bought PC Henderson in 2000.

Mrs Brockley added: “There are two sides of the business, the sliding gear side will stay part of the Swedish group.

“In effect, where we had one business there will be two separate businesses run individually.”

Roberta Blackman-Woods, MP for Durham City, said: “This is, of course, very good news. I am delighted that jobs have been saved and I congratulate the current owners for finding a buyer to continue the business.

“I had already set up a meeting with management and unions for Tuesday to discuss the situation and that meeting will go ahead so that I can be fully briefed on the arrangements, and so we can discuss what help is needed over the next couple of months to ensure a smooth transition.”

Workers at the plant, returning to work yesterday after the Christmas break, received letters telling them the news on Saturday.

A 90-day consultation with unions had started at the 87-year-old firm, based in Durham Road, Bowburn, a week before Christmas.

The garage door side of the business has been having difficulties for several years.

One reason was an increase in steel prices since 2004, but also a Government change in planning regulations reduced the amount of land housebuilders could take up per house. That had led to more apartments and three-storey townhouses, which did not have garages.

Privately owned Cardale, founded by Roy Sibley in 1945, originally began manufacturing garage doors in 1964.