BOLTON employees working in the footwear and leather industry have achieved national awards through a ground-breaking North-west training initiative.

Workers at Walsh's Sports Ltd in Baldwin Street were among those who took part in a presentation ceremony at E. Sutton and Son Ltd's centre for training excellence at Bacup in Rossendale.

They were involved in training for footwear manufacturing skills qualifications, together with supervisory management skills. In all, more than 100 employees from North-west firms achieved qualifications over two years from the COLTRAIN collective training project for the footwear and leather industries.

Jon Crompton, Managing Director of Walsh's, said: "This has been a very successful project with many people gaining invaluable training to assist them to enhance their skills for the mutual benefit of themselves and their companies.

"The footwear industry has much to offer individuals of all ages which has been demonstrated by the variety of qualifications through this project."

The European Social Fund provided finance for the COLTRAIN initiative which involved the Footwear and Leather National Training Organisation, E. Sutton & Son Ltd, the British Footwear Association and a number of other trade organisations.