Blanket factory Early's has been taken over by a Derbyshire firm, with the loss of 12 jobs.

Quilt manufacturer Quiltex has bought the Witney premises and has pledged to keep the 300-year old tradition of blanket making in the area.

Early's chairman and managing director, Robert Crisp, said: "Quiltex plans to build on a 300-year-old tradition in Witney to restore Early's to its former glory as a leading brand in household textiles.

"It will continue to manufacture at the Witney factory and together we are formulating plans to develop a new, modern and efficient manufacturing site to maintain the local association with blanket manufacturing."

The job loses will be in sales and administration, taking the remaining workforce down to 70.

The factory shop will remain open for business.

Mr Crisp added: "The need for these changes comes after many years of decline for blanket making in the UK and in particular for Early's which, over the last 40 years, has seen a decline in annual production from 1.5 million to 250,000 blankets.

Last year Early's, which has been making blankets in the town for more than 300 years, unveiled plans to develop its site for housing so it could raise the capital to allow it to move to a smaller purpose-built factory elsewhere in the town.