IT may be July but a Cwmbran-based tinsel factory is already ramping up production following a major investment supported by the Welsh Government.

Christmas has come early for Festive Productions – the UK’s largest manufacturer of tinsel – which had to replace nearly half of the 250,000 square foot roof at its factory in Ty Coch Way, Cwmbran.

The major refurbishment cost £455,500 and was supported by £150,000 repayable business finance from the Welsh Government.

This investment in Festive Productions safeguarded 60 permanent jobs and around 130 seasonal jobs that are created annually during the three-month peak in production.

The company is now on track to produce around 200,000 metres of tinsel a month in the run up to Christmas 2016, supplying customers ranging from grocers and high street retailers to garden centres and independent retail stores.

Economy cabinet secretary Ken Skates said the Cwmbran company “supports a large number of well paid jobs” and was pleased that “production for the coming festive season is now well under way”.

“The company has a long association with Wales when they began making tinsel and Christmas decorations in Newport more than thirty years ago,” he said.

"I am pleased Welsh Government support has helped safeguard employment and that production for the coming festive season is now well under way."

Chairman of Festive Productions, John Saunders added: “As a major local employer we work closely with the Welsh Government to safeguard jobs and manufacturing in South Wales.

“The assistance with funding which we have received is another example of this successful partnership and allows us to concentrate on continuing to grow our business.”

Festive Productions opened its first facility in Newport in 1983 before moving to a 17-acre head office site in Cwmbran in 2000.

It creates a range of products for the Christmas decoration market including baubles, tinsel, wreaths, lights and artificial trees and has licence agreements with Disney and Universal.