CARPET giant Brintons has once again smashed financial records to break through the £10 million profit barrier for the first time.

The Kidderminster family-owned firm also saw worldwide sales increase by 10 per cent to £112 million, bucking the trend of tough times for the industry.

The news was particulary welcome as last year saw a fall in profits after five years of continued growth.

Company managing director Alan Folwell said the results reflected the improved geographical spread of its global sales and marketing.

He said: "It is a credit to our employees worldwide that the group has broken through the £10 million profit level for the first time, particularly as market conditions in many parts of the world were working against us.

"Nevertheless we cannot afford to be complacent in the face of increasingly intensive international competition in all the markets we serve.

"We continue to be cautious about the medium term prospects for the UK and world economy but are intent on using our strength to out-perform our competition."

Mr Folwell added competitive pressures remained intense in all markets and the continued weakness of the Euro caused particular problems in exports.

However, these factors have been offset by improved performances at Brintons British manufacturing sites, by increased capacity in Portugal and India and by tight control of raw material costs.

This year the firm completed its relocation of manufacturing from Kidderminster town centre. A new factory in India opened and a finishing plant in Portugal has been commissioned.

Future projects include a "state-of-the-art" package dyeing plant at its Stourport Road factory in Kidderminster.