WELLINGTON-based Swallowfield plc has delivered more forecast-beating results, vindicating an upbeat trading statement it made just two months ago.

The toiletries and cosmetics firm, which employs 500 workers at its Station Road, Wellington site and at Bideford, has restored payment of an interimdividend at 1.4p per share on the back of results for the 28 weeks to Jan 12.

Despite a fall in sales to £23.5million from £25.7million last year and a reduction in operating profit to £830,000, the figures were better than forecast, putting the company in boyant mood.

See this week's Wellington Weekly News for more on this story.