Cockermouth's biggest employer has ditched plans to relocate its flood-hit factory to Lillyhall.

James Walker & Co, which employs more than 400 people, said last February that it was in talks with Allerdale council about moving to a planned new development at Workington.

But this week, it announced it was staying put and looking into how best to protect the site from future floods.

Company chairman Peter Needham said: "After careful deliberation we have decided that, although the move has its benefits, it is not attractive for the business to make the levels of investment necessary to facilitate the move.

"Investing in our existing facilities will allow us to focus on the key tasks of product development, manufacturing excellence and customer service without the inevitable disruption to business that a major move would involve."

The company, which makes seals and gaskets, has been in town more than 40 years.

Following the floods in 2009 and 2015, it has been examining its options, not only in how to make the business flood resilient, but how to continue growing and developing its capabilities, said a spokesman.

The company has been working with local agencies, including Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria’s Local Enterprise Partnership, on the possible options, one of which was the potential relocation of current operations to the Lillyhall North industrial park.

Mark Brook, supply chain director, said: “A great deal of effort and time has gone into researching our options and ultimately we have concluded that the best option is to stay in Cockermouth.

"We continue to work closely with Cumbria LEP, Allerdale Council and the Environment Agency on how we reduce the risks on our existing site at Cockermouth from any potential future flood events.

"We plan to continue investing in our advanced manufacturing and technical centre for Elastomers at Cockermouth with the aim of taking us to the highest levels of flood resilience possible, and secure the future of the business for our customers, shareholders, employees and the wider community.”