FISHING tackle firm Hardy & Greys has reduced the number of staff it expected to make redundant and is cautiously optimistic about the future, according to managing director Richard Maudslay.

He returned in a hands-on role to the iconic company, which he previously managed and where he had been working as a non-executive director, after Richard Sanderson resigned in the autumn.

One of his first tasks was to reduce the number of job losses at the 140-year-old firm, which now has around 80 staff and is one of the biggest employers in Alnwick.

“We have actually through all sorts of juggling reduced the number to 20,” said Maudslay.

“Originally, it was 27 and five have already got jobs. That is really encouraging.

“My experience on the board of One North East showed me when there are redundancies, people who have been well-trained and worked for good employers are more likely to get jobs.”

He is now spending a couple of days a week at the firm’s Northumberland headquarters and said there was no hurry to find a permanent manager.

“We are not searching actively at the moment. We have got a very good team and I am spending a lot more time here than I was. It’s working well,” said Maudslay.