PENNINE Telecom at Bury has taken a controlling interest in telephone equipment specialist Interquartz (UK) Ltd.

Andrew Roberts from Pennine has acted as an Interquartz non-executive director since 1992.

He has now taken over from retiring managing director Humphrey Wright and Pennine has increased its stake from 33 per cent to 65 per cent.

Interquartz, which has its manufacturing headquarters in Hong Kong, manufactures and distributes high-specification, competitively-priced phones.

Mr Roberts said: "When we became involved, the company had a turnover of £300,000.

"Now it's £3 million, which represents nearly a third of our overall trade. We can only see that growing."

He went on: "There's no question that it's a dynamic investment to buy into a manufacturer and our level of input will be increasing."

Interquartz is developing new products and markets.

Mr Roberts said: "Our responsibility is closer to home but, while we are keen to develop the UK market, we are now taking enquiries from throughout the old Eastern Bloc and continental Europe. It's a very exciting time."

Pennine Telecom is also helping the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester to cut phone and maintenance costs.