UK washing machine making returns with County Durham factory

The return of domestic washing machine manufacturing to Britain has moved a step closer with the Duke of Kent opening a new production facility in County Durham.

The Newton Aycliffe-based dehumidifier company Ebac has spent five years designing a production line capable of delivering up to 300,000 new washing machines a year for the UK market.

The last British maker of washing machines for the home - Hotpoint - pulled out 10 years ago.

Ebac says full-scale manufacture will not start until early 2016, but MD Pamela Petty has high hopes for their "British" product.