FOOD, farming and engineering group Carr's Milling says it is trading ahead of last year and is continuing its strong performance.

The Carlisle-based group, which also has interests in North America and Europe, said it expects “strong earnings growth” for the full year.

In May, it completed the £800,000 acquisition of Clive Walton Engineering, based near Carr’s Carlisle headquarters. The firm makes components which will complement the company’s existing Bendalls Engineering business.

Carr’s reported a “very strong” performance in the engineering division, which works mainly with the nuclear industry,

Meanwhile, The cold April and May boosted demand for fuel and animal feed, while sales of agricultural machinery were also ahead of last year, Carr’s said in a statement for the 18 weeks to July 7.

But it said the flour milling business “continued to be depressed”  because of long-term capacity issues and the volatile wheat price.