TWO business partners and best friends of 40 years have launched a new furniture and homewares outlet in a former textile mill.

Michele Dematteis and Chris Maddocks are behind M&C Home Furnishings, at Cullingworth Mills.

A large showroom on the second floor of the Victorian building, in Greenside Lane, stocks everything from sofas and rugs to dining tables and chairs.

Two jobs have been created, and it's hoped to expand the team.

Chris says: "My career has involved working with many big-name furniture retailers and their manufacturers, meaning I have contacts throughout the industry. As a result, we have direct access to their factories and stock and we're able to purchase cancelled orders, end-of-line merchandise and clearance items straight from the makers of top-quality homewares."

The launch of M&C Home Furnishings completes the tenant line up at Cullingworth Mills.

Mill owner, Julia Richardson, says: "Over the last 10 years we've been renovating the buildings, one floor at a time.

"When we only had the second floor to finish, we knew we wanted a business to come in that would complement other tenants. A modern furniture store works perfectly alongside the existing vintage furniture stores and antiques dealers, the cafe and gym. We're so pleased to welcome M&C and hope its arrival will increase footfall and boost the local economy further."