Tyre manufacturer Pirelli has seen profits in its UK division more than double in its last financial year.

Newly-filed accounts with Companies House showPirelli UK Tyres - the part of the multinational which operates its factory in Dalston Road, Carlisle - show that it made a pre-tax profit of just less than £15.8m in the year to December 31.

This compares to slightly more than £6.9m in the previous year, which is growth of 129 per cent.

Turnover also grew to just less than £349.9m from just less than £320.8m in 2015.

Statements filed with the accounts said that this good performance was down to strong sales in the UK and Europe to "prestigious car manufacturers".

It also saw growth in replacement tyres for both cars and SUVs in the UK.

The statement added: "The company has continued with a significant investment programme targeted on the evolution of the UK manufacturing site based in Carlisle, with continued focus on manufacturing processes in line with the Pirelli group's premium product strategy."

The accounts though do not give more details on this.

Pirelli's Carlisle plant is one of two the Chinese-owned firm has in the UK, the other is in Burton-on-Trent.

It opened in 1969 and its tyres are supplied to Jaguar/Land Rover, Volkswagen/Audi, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo and Maserati.

The plant employs about 850 people and earlier this year the tyre manufacturer secured planning permission to add a new extension to the plant at Dalston Road, which will be used to "cure" tyres - a process which gives the product its final shape - produced there.

Pirelli have said this will secure jobs at the site and possibly lead to the creation of more positions.