Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 01 May 2008

PART of a long-established Workington business is being taken over by a Carlisle firm.

Chambers DIY, on James Street, will be taken over by Carlisle Glass.

The deal was completed this week after almost six months of negotiations between the two family-run companies.

Chambers DIY’s 11 staff will keep their jobs at the premises, which will be renamed this summer as Longhorn Hardware.

Chambers was established in Workington in 1881 and is now run by brothers Ian and George Chambers, who are the family-run business's fourth generation.

Although relinquishing its DIY and timber business, Chambers will continue operating its next door Homecentre, as well as its joinery contracts operation at Clay Flatts Trading Estate. Chambers will still employ 25 people at these two locations.

Ian Chambers said: “We have known the people at Carlisle Glass for many years. We have worked together and we see the deal as mutually beneficial to both companies. “In fact, we are chuffed to bits it is them who are buying the business from us.

“We have excellent staff and a lot of them have been very loyal in staying with us for a long time at Chambers DIY, so we are delighted they are all staying on as part of the deal. That was one of the most important things to me.”

Carlisle Glass already operates Longhorn Hardware shops in Carlisle, Kendal, Morecambe, Hawick and Darlington and employs 200 people.

Carlisle Glass director Catherine Hodgson said: “We have wanted to set up a permanent base in West Cumbria for a long time.

“We deliver to customers in West Cumbria five times a week from our Carlisle stores. The next step was to get a shop there.”