ONGOING investments at Hexham manufacturing giant, Egger UK Ltd, have helped to lift turnover by almost nine per cent.

Bosses at the town’s wood panel maker have shrugged off Brexit uncertainties as it published accounts for the year ended April 30 2018, posting a rise in turnover from £259m to £282m. Operating profit also went up from £25.7m to £29.7m.

Net assets of the firm increased to £85.4m due thanks to the financial year profit of £20.6m and dividend payment of £8.8m being transferred to reserves.

Directors said the solid increases follow continued investments at its UK sites, which have benefited from more than £100m since 2012, as well as investments in people.

The firm said that part of the increase is due to significant increases in raw material costs, especially wood. However, the business made gains from its increased mix of higher value-added products sold.

Bob Livesey, commercial director at Egger Western European division, said: “This is a credit to the ongoing investments we continue to make in new technologies, new production machinery, and in industry-leading and ultra-realistic decors and textures.

“During the year we invested more than £15m, meaning that we have now invested more than £100m in our UK operations in the past six years.”

In the summer the Hexham plant opened its doors to the public and staff operated site tours, served food and drinks, and ran family activities, which attracted 1,400 visitors.