Oil industry gives Yorkshire a boost

A boost to the Middle East's oil industry could see job creation in Yorkshire as a manufacturing company opens a new distribution firm in the UK.

French-based FDS Group has created company New-Seal which will join Flexitallic and Novus Sealing in Cleckheaton, firms that currently have a combined annual turnover of £30 million and employ 210 staff.

Phil Kelshaw, the managing director of Flexitallic and Novus Sealing, which provide gaskets to the oil industry, claimed to be very excited by the new development.

"While our preferred route to market will be via New-Seal, we will continue to supply the market via our network of independent distributors at our current pricing levels," he said.

"We look forward with great confidence to a successful and growing future," Mr Kelshaw added.

Meanwhile, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Enforcement and Regulation has given its conditional approval to oil drilling off the coast of Alaska.