BOLMOOR Industries - the Bolton factory which employs people with disabilities - is diversifying into computers. New and recycled computers assembled at Bolmoor have been under trial within Bolton Council's Commercial Services department for almost a year. More than 60 PCs will have been delivered by the time the trial is completed in April.

Bolmoor Industries, which is managed by Commercial Services on behalf of Social Services, employs up to 40 people in St Helens Road, Bolton.

The factory manufactures a wide range of sewn products and trades locally, nationally and internationally - to countries including Germany, Sweden, Russia and Australia.

It currently supplies 90 per cent of the country's news bag market (including the Bolton Evening News) and has been awarded lst Class Supplier status by the Post Office for two years running.

Bolmoor manager Julia Woods said: "Increased competition from developing third world countries has meant that Bolmoor has had to diversify into new product areas - computer assembly and recycling are examples of this."

A brand new Bolmoor Lynx PC and a recycled computer have been presented by Bolmoor Computers to the innovative Westhoughton Youth Drop In Centre in Bolton Road, Westhoughton.

The Centre, funded by Westhoughton Town Council, is aimed at young people aged between 13 and 21.

The computers were handed over by Cllr Cliff Morris, Chairman of Bolton Social Services Committee.

Cllr Morris said the new scheme supported the employment of people with disabilities, helped tackle exclusion, demonstrated the value of diversity and helped raise standards of education and technology skills.

"It can support fledgling small businesses by providing essential office equipment at low cost at the earliest and most critical stage in a company's development," Cllr Morris said.

"It also supports the development of a clean, green and healthy environment."

Bolmoor Industries hope eventually to offer a recycling service to all council departments and local businesses.

They would be able to trade in their old computers for their residual value and buy a new Bolmoor PC.

Traded in computers would then be stripped, refurbished and retailed to the general public.

Anybody interested in supporting the venture can ring Paul Fairclough at Bolmoor - 01204 656711.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.