Telecoms firm Medlock Communications has bucked the industry trend by ringing up record turnover.

As other companies battle against a downturn, the Salford-based business more than doubled sales last year from £26m to £52.5m, according to managing director Lindsay Khan.

However, the figure was below the expected £72m. Pre-tax profits showed a marginal increase from £3m to £3.5m.

Mr Khan said the foot and mouth crisis put large tracts of the countryside out of bounds for much of 2001, which meant work installing mobile phone masts had to be put on hold.

"Also, we were geared up for third generation mobile phone technology and took on more than 100 people, but it didn't happen, which meant we incurred costs," he added.

"The third factor was that the general telecoms downturn meant companies were concentrating on increasing profitability rather than on rolling out new infrastructure.

Developments

"However, we are geared up for those developments coming to fruition this year. We expect turnover of at least £80m in 2002, and profits of £6m."

Medlock Communications has offices in Salford, Crawley and Grangemouth in Scotland.

It employs more than 250 staff and has recently announced an overseas expansion programme which it hopes will generate a further £25m in turnover by the end of next year.

It is part of the privately-owned Medlock Group, which includes Broadhurst Engineering, of Oldham, UA Communications, based in Kilmarnock, and a 45 per cent share of Commhoist, of Wigan.

During 2001, Medlock won a £2m-plus order with third generation mobile phone companies and a £13m-plus contract to supply infrastructure for the BT Airwave digital radio system used by emergency services.

The company was founded in 1991 as part of the Medlock Group and began trading in its own right in 1999, when turnover was £16m.

It provides a wide range of telecoms services including design, construction, land procurement, facilities management and maintenance.

Medlock installs mobile phone masts in environmentally-friendly ways, said Mr Khan.

"We disguise them as trees in the countryside, or hide them in petrol station and other signs.

"Alternatively, we put fibreglass around them which we paint to blend in with the surroundings."