AN HISTORIC uniform manufacturer which lost a £50million Ministry of Defence contract has been offered a lifeline to supply combat clothing for a multi-national leisure company.

Blackburn's Cookson and Clegg was facing closure after losing the multi-million pound contract to supply the Ministry of Defence, which it had held since the 1930s.

But now Shaun Browne, vice-president of Battlefield Sports, has offered the firm the chance to manufacture military-style uniforms for participants in his laser-skirmish game.

Cookson and Clegg, based at Shadsworth Business Park, Blackburn, is also bidding for a £1.5million contract to supply uniforms to the Kuwait police.

Securing both contracts would represent a remarkable turnaround for the textile firm which made 18 people redundant in June and announced the end of clothing production at its Blackburn site after 145 years.

Battlefield Sports has one million customers at 100 sites in 22 countries.

A colleague of Mr Browne, who is in the process of setting up Battlefield Sports sites in the North West, read about Cookson and Clegg's plight in the Evening Telegraph last month and suggested they help.

Talks are at an early stage, but it is hoped an arrangement can be struck up in the next month which would involve Cookson and Clegg supplying uniforms to at least 50 of Battlefield's sites as well as clothes for a new merchandising range.

The company currently employs 20 people completing minor orders, 10 in the office and the rest in the factory. It is not yet known if securing the contracts would lead to the creation of new jobs.

David Moore, operations manager at Cookson and Clegg, said the news could help secure the company's future and added: "Since losing the MoD contract it has become harder and harder to find work.

"This is not something we could have predicted. It is like light at the end of the tunnel.

"Morale was rock bottom.

"A month ago we found out about the £1.5million contract for the Kuwait police and now this and everyone has a smile on their faces.

"I can see this partnership growing and ending with us making uniforms for the whole of Battlefield Sports."

Mr Browne said: "These uniforms are the real McCoy compared to what we have been using. I am confident we can put something together

"I am keen to work with this company because they have a long history. This will happen subject to our team agreeing the details.

"I am very excited about this partnership. We have a unique opportunity to hit the video game generation, especially with the retail side of it."

Elaine Marsden and Duncan Bell, of Moss Side Farm, Roman Road, Darwen, are to manage four new Battlefield Sports sites in the North West.

Last month they were refused planning permission to set one up in Cranberry Moor, Darwen.

Ms Marsden said: "I read about what was happening to Cookson and Clegg in the Telegraph and thought it was outrageous.

"I though they had been sold down the river. As soon as I read about it I thought we could help and suggested it to Shaun. We then contacted them to see how they felt about it. Blackburn is my home town and we don't like to see local companies fail."

In June 2004, the MoD announced that Northern Ireland-based Cooneen Watts and Stone, which was to source the work from China, had won the contract to manufacture all of its combat clothing.

Cookson and Clegg went to the High Court, but judges denied the request for the decision to be judicially reviewed.

Mr Browne set up Battlefield Sports in 1999 with friend Peter Lander and has seen it grow to a company with a £20million annual revenue.