The Japanese company that has bought Innovia Films' Cellophane films' division says it is committed to investing in the Wigton plant.

Futamura Chemical has completed a £60m deal taking over this part of the business and now employs about 270 people in Cumbria, most of whom have transferred from Innovia.

The privately-owned firm, based in Nagoya, has become the world's leading manufacturer of cellulose films as a result of the acquisition.

Keith Fell, 62, a former commercial director at Innovia has come out of retirement to become Futamura's general manager for Europe.

He worked at the plant for 44 years, joining as a records clerk at the age of 16 in 1970, before retiring two years ago.

He saidL "I always missed the buzz of work." .

Demand for Cellophane has weakened as other packaging materials have emerged and Wigton is the last surviving manufacturing site in Europe.

Innovia's cellophane business survived largely because of niche products such as NatureFlex, a biodegradable and compostable cellulose-based film primarily used to wrap fresh food.

Mr Fell said: "We are looking to grow the biodegradable compostable films - we are continuing to push those and grow the market in those products."

The UK and Germany are seen as strong markets for those products.

He added that the company "was hoping we would stay in the EU" but could not tell what the long-term effects of the Brexit vote would be.

Mr Fell said: "The commitment is to invest in the firm but we cannot quantify it at the moment."

The company has committed to protecting jobs in Wigton but does not expect to be creating new positions in the immediate future but Mr Fell stressed that Futamura saw the Cumbrian operation as a long-term commitment.

Futamura's president, Yasuo Nagae, said: Through the acquisition we have strengthened our Futamura family and together we look forward to a bright future that includes further investment in technology and in our employees.”

A delegation from Japan will officially open the Wigton operation on July 25.