A HISTORIC Kidderminster carpet firm has been given a new year boost through a huge increase in its earnings.

According to its latest trading results for the 12 months to October 1, 2016, Brintons Carpets Limited announced an 81 per cent increase in year-on-year earnings before interest, tax and amortization.

This saw the 234-year-old firm bring in £14.5million compared with £8million from the previous year and leaving it with a profit margin of 16.3 per cent.

Bosses at the Stourport Road-based company said significant investment and expansion had resulted in this success and were confident of another successful 12 months.

Duccio Baldi, Brintons chief executive, said: “It has been another very positive year for the Kidderminster-based company and confirms the turnaround in the brand’s performance since its new ownership five years ago.

“This has been brought about by a combination of significant investment in new technology and improved productivity.

"The outlook for 2017 is equally promising as we continue to benefit from developments such as our acquisition of Polish carpet manufacturer F.D. Agnella in 2015.

“We have a strong order book and as a net exporter we can take advantage of sterling's global devaluation to further improve earnings.”

Brintons was struggling in administration when it was acquired in September 2011 by The Carlyle Group.

But a company spokesman said the firm has since made steady progress to achieve these recent results. In November 2016 Carlyle appointed William Blair & Co. to advise on future strategic options.