Cumbrian manufacturer James Cropper has made a "promising" start to 2017.

This comment was made by the firm's chairman, Mark Cropper, at the firm's AGM.

The paper maker, based at Burneside near Kendal, made a pre-tax profit of £6.6m for this financial year, up from £5.2m in 2016, a rise of about 27 per cent.

It also reported sales growth across all of its divisions; paper and technical fibre products. In the former these rose by three per cent and in the latter it was 14 per cent.

Alongside this, it has created a 3D division an dincreased investments outside of the UK.

Mr Cropper said: "I am pleased to report that the Group has enjoyed a promising start to the current financial year and has traded profitably in the first quarter and ahead of the prior year first quarter."

He also said its results were in line with management expectations and that the paper business was coping with an unexpected rise in the price of pulp.

It is also expecting to develop the 3D division.

Mr Cropper added: " The board believes our plans for the year will not be impacted by the UK's exit from the European Union."

"Overall, the outlook for the group remains in line with management expectations. TFP will continue to utilise available manufacturing capacity to accelerate sales into aerospace, green technologies and defence markets.

"Paper will be aiming to mitigate increased pulp prices by continuing to enrich its portfolio in profitable niche markets. 3DP (3D products) will be focused on commercialising the sales pipeline."

"I am pleased with the progress we are making and confident of the group's performance," he added.