One of Carlisle’s most prominent factories has announced a huge jobs boost for the city as it secures new contacts with major food retailer M&S.

2 Sisters Food Group, which runs Cavaghan and Gray, said the deal requires a £7m expansion of the site at Brunel Way and will create 200 new roles.

Carlisle MP John Stevenson said the development is extremely significant for the city.

The factory has taken on M&S’s Gastropub and fish ranges.

William Duncanson, site director, said: “We are extremely proud to have worked closely with M&S for many years and to have been trusted with the production of even more exciting food ranges.

“We take a huge amount of pride in delivering and creating their quality products.

“The team here at Cavaghan and Gray are enormously hard-working and this investment will allow us to continue doing what we love, producing tasty, high quality food that customers love.”

Mr Stevenson said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for Carlisle.

“It demonstrates the confidence that 2 Sisters have in their workforce and the city.

“The creation of 200 jobs for a city of our size is extremely significant and must be hugely welcomed.

“A £7m investment into our city demonstrates that businesses have confidence in Carlisle and there is a growing confidence in the economic success of our city, as demonstrated by this investment and other investments that are going on.

“We have got to keep ensuring that people realise just how good Carlisle is.”

2 Sisters has been granted approval to build a 900sq m extension of the factory in Durranhill Industrial Estate.

This single storey building, an infill between two existing buildings, will house additional production space and storage, states the plans.

A new chill extension, measuring 195sq m, is also part of the expansion. This would be built onto the southern elevation of the current building.

Plans also include the installation of three new windows and two dock levellers.

The news comes as workers at the closure-hit Pinneys of Scotland factory are leaving their jobs ahead of its shutdown.

The workforce at Pinneys of Scotland, from Cumbria and the south of Scotland, were told they would lose their jobs after Young’s Seafood announced in April.

The fish firm had signed three contracts with M&S to supply the high street giant with chilled and frozen coated fish, natural salmon and white fish from 2018 to 2023.

It plans to move natural salmon production from Annan to Grimsby and exited deli and meals production.

The firm said this was no longer financially sustainable at Pinneys, resulting in the closure of the factory and the loss of 450 permanent jobs.

Efforts to secure employment and find a buyer for the site have proven unsuccessful.