CROSS Manufacturing, one of Devizes' largest employers, has applied for permission to extend its factory at Hopton Park.

The privately owned family company has doubled in size in the last ten years. It designs and manufactures heat resisting wrought alloy sealing rings for the aerospace and automative industries.

A total of 175 staff are employed at the factory and 75 at its head office in Bath.

The planning application submitted to Kennet District Council is for a three-bay extension and will be in addition to an extension that was granted last year.

David Spencer, managing director, said the company anticipated recruiting up to ten additional staff.

He said: "We need more space. We extended the building three years ago and the business has continued to grow.

"We have had to add plant and equipment.

"This proposed extension reflects the steady growth of the company."

The majority of the company's products are exported to North America and Europe.

A particular growth area for the company continues to be the production of seal rings for turbo chargers in diesel powered engines.