FORMER Bolton and England soccer star turned multi-millionaire businessman Franny Lee is pulling his firm out of the town. Workers at the FH Lee Limited factory in Parrot Street say they have been told they are to be relocated in the next couple of weeks. The factory has been a main part of Westhoughton-born Mr Lee's paper recycling empire for more than 25 years.

The 220-strong workforce have been told they will be moved to the company's Trafford Park site, in a relocation which will begin in the near future.

One employee at the Parrot Street factory, off Derby Street, Bolton said: "We have been told the move will be happening in a couple of weeks time.

"But I don't know whether all the workers here will want to travel to Trafford Park every day."

Another employee who contacted the BEN, but did not wish to be named, added: "The factory is closing and 220 workers have been told they can relocate to Trafford Park."

Franny Lee set up his paper converting firm in 1971 with around half a dozen employees, making items such as toilet rolls and kitchen towels.

The company enjoyed a boom and in 1984 it merged with Hazelwood Foods of Derby when Mr Lee, who now lives in Cheshire, sold the company for more than £8 million.

He has remained on the board and, as a major shareholder of the enlarged firm, has continued to run the paper business.

The decision to move his business from Bolton comes only months after 53-year-old Lee suffered the double blow of his mum Millie's death and losing the chairmanship of Manchester City Football Club.

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