A LEADING toy maker - based in Bury - is celebrating after securing a £13m funding deal with a high street bank.

Bosses at Barclays have confirmed the cash injection for Redvales-based Sambro International, which has licensing deals with Nickleodeon for the likes of Paw Patrol and Spongebob Squarepants.

Management say that despite the pandemic the firm enjoyed a strong 2020 saleswise and the investment will spur them on this decade.

Tony Hicks, Sambro's chief executive, “We are delighted to be working with the Barclays’ team and have been very impressed with their desire to understand our business and build a strong partnership approach.

"The next few years will be very exciting for our business.”

And Tom Falcon, chairman of Sambro and a partner at Elysian, which has backed Sambro since 2016, said: “We have been really impressed by Sambro’s resilience and business improvements over this challenging period.

“Combining Sambro’s highly capable team with Barclays Bank support, the platform has been laid for a period of accelerated growth.

"Sambro can pursue new opportunities and markets and we are excited by the future for the business.”

The outfit, which has secured a number of awards through its partnership with Nickleodeon, employs more than 80 at its sites in Bury, Hong Kong and Amsterdam.

Matt Ryan, the northern head of large corporate retail and wholesale at Barclays, added: “Barclays has been building a close relationship with Sambro International since it was acquired by Elysian in 2016 and I’m delighted to see this latest facility put in place to support their continued growth aspirations.”

The Dumers Lane venture also works with mainstays like Mattel and Hasbro and was first formed in 1996. Other popular ranges include XOXO and Puzzle Palz.