An award winning firm based on the Shropshire-Powys border has started a £350,000 expansion.

Water bottling company, Montgomery Natural Spring Water Company, in Churchstoke, has started work on an expansion programme to build a 10,000 sq ft extension.

The development will provide an additional 2,000 pallet space, on-site warehouse, with external coverage to support operational activity of the water bottling plant. Increased demand for bottled water has seen a 32 per cent growth in production since 2008, at the firm, with this level of growth set to continue throughout 2010.

Following such a successful year, the new warehouse will give the company vital storage space to enable the bottling plant to meet demand for orders from their customers at peak times during the year.

Richard Whittall, operations director said: “This expansion is crucial to enable us to be competitive in our market.

“With increased sales we were in need of the right quantity and quality of storage space and distribution area to ensure we maintain our excellent service levels even at times of high demand for orders of bottled still, sparkling, mineral water and flavoured water for the retailers, wholesalers, food service and licensed outlets.”