According to a report in the Belfast Telegraph, Northern Ireland’s largest independent tyre firm — Modern Tyres — has announced plans for a new £5.6 million factory in Newry.

The company says it has identified a niche in the market for high-quality wheel- and rim-mounting products for lorries and agricultural vehicles; it has submitted a planning application for an 83,000ft² manufacturing facility at Carnbane Business Park.

As well as rim and tyre manufacture, the centre will also undertake the refurbishment of wheel rims.

Modern Tyres (www.moderntyres.com) already operates on a site with-in Carnbane Business Park, which is owned by Invest Northern Ireland.

Its plans for the new factory include offices, welfare facilities and yard storage areas.

Documents submitted alongside its planning application indicate that between 35 and 45 staff will be based at the factory.

Set up by Jimmy Byrne in County Fermanagh in 1965, Modern Tyres now has 30 branches in Northern Ireland and another 10 in the Republic.

Its latest company accounts showed a turnover of £22.4 million in 2017, up from £20.9 million the previous year.