THE new owner of Westhoughton kitchen furniture company Bernsteins has pledge that the firm's 400 jobs are safe.

Cheshire entrepreneur Bill Gleave made the promise after buying the Wingate Industrial Estate factory for an undisclosed sum.

Officials from the GMB union said that they hoped to hold talks this week about the future of all staff at the site, but Mr Gleave has reassured workers that their jobs will be safe.

He takes over as chairman with immediate effect and the business will continue to produce kitchen furniture for the retail market.

Staff were told at the end of last year that jobs were on the line when the ailing firm was put on the market.

It was feared that the loss of a major contract with B&Q - which saw the workforce cut from 720 to 400 in November, 2002 - could result in new owners implementing a change of focus for the factory.

But a spokesman for the companysaid the "exciting" sale to Mr Gleave would put the business on a positive financial footing and protect the future and employment at the Westhoughton site.

Mr Gleave, aged 37, from Hale, Cheshire said: "The Bernstein Group is an established leading player in a growing kitchen market with good brands and an impressive operation and team.

"There is great potential to develop a strong and vibrant future for the company and I am confident of a smooth transition as we continue business as usual."

Mr Gleave comes into the job with a glowing business pedigree.

He became the youngest chief executive of a plc in the UK when he was appointed to head the textile company, The French Group , at the age of just 32.

Mr Gleave has since been drafted in to work as a "trouble shooter" at struggling companies.

Westhoughton councillor David Wilkinson said of the takeover: "It's good news if the the jobs can be kept.

"We'll have to wait and see what the plan is, but we're in a better position than we were a few weeks ago."