A WELL-known Radcliffe company which has been trading for nearly 30 years has changed hands.

Site Electrical, which has three offices and 88 staff, has been acquired by Lancashire-based contractors and developers, Eric Wright Group, in a significant expansion of its engineering division.

Site Electrical which specialising in the water industry, has its head office in Milltown Street. The business, which has an annual £7 million turnover, is a privately-owned company set up by Tom Murphy 29 years ago. It will be incorporated within the water sector of Eric Wright Civil Engineering (EWCE).

Site Electrical built up its business by providing electrical services. It expanded into the installation and maintenance of all types of electrical and mechanical equipment used in the water industry.

The firm which is a specialist contractor to the water and waste industry, , has branch offices in Birmingham for Severn Trent and in Dumfries for Scottish Water and Dumfries and Galloway regional authority.

The company has installed, repaired and currently maintain thousands of pumping station facilities for water utility companies, local authorities, private entities, landfill sites, land development and construction companies.

Mr Murphy will be staying with the company as a marketing consultant. The rest of the group, including the 69 staff in Radcliffe, 16 in Severn Trent and seven in Dumfries and Galloway, will continue to operate with the Site Electrical name.

EWCE managing director, John Saddington, said: “The integration of the two companies provides a total package of mechanical, electrical and civil engineering services to all clients.

“We are extremely excited about the future and look forward to further enhancing our first class, all round service within the water industry.”

Mr Murphy disclosed that the new owners had been clients for more than ten years. He added: “Following an initial approach, and after much consideration, I decided that it would be a positive move for Site Electrical to become an independent part of EWCE.

“It will enable us to accelerate our planned growth and expansion of our business that is already under way. My management team, staff and I see this as a very positive move and we look forward to the future.”

The Eric Wright Group, also a private company, employs 250 people at its offices at Bamber Bridge, near Preston, and Bowness-on-Windermere.