Jubilee medals deal creates jobs for Worcestershire firm

A Worcestershire manufacturing firm has said a £7m contract to make commemorative medals for the Queen's diamond jubilee has allowed them to expand the business.

Bromsgrove-based Worcestershire Medal Services secured a deal to create 465,000 medals at a rate of 30,000 a week and has taken on seven new staff to complete the order.

The company's owner, Phil McDermott, said it will help sustain the business "for the next three to four years without any worry to us".

The medals will be issued to members of the royal household, army personnel and front line emergency services staff.

Some 20 tonnes of nickel-silver and 40km (24.9 miles) of ribbon will be used in their manufacture in Birmingham's jewellery quarter.