WHEN their Hampshire company went bust owing more than £1m five months ago, the future looked bleak for the 50-strong workforce.

Employees at Blondecell, Marchwood, not only lost their jobs but also missed out on wages and many worried how they would support their families.

Blondecell, based at the famous old Husband's yard at Cracknore Hard had made boats and mouldings for 25 years.

Warwick Buckley, former technical manager for Blondecell and Nick Hamner, former purchasing and quality manager, refused to give up and together they launched Composite Mouldings.

The new company staffed by ex-Blondecell workers is turning into a great success story.

Based at the old-Blondecell site, the new firm has picked up where the old one left off and is now busy building a variety of boats and mouldings.

Fifteen people have got their old jobs back and the new directors are hoping that more people will also be able to return as the business expands.

"When Blondecell ended, the morale was terrible," said Mr Buckley. "It was one of the few times in my life when I really didn't want to go to work.

"Now the future looks very promising. The guys are working hard and everybody is enthused and keen to get the business back on its feet. All the signs are that the company is going forward and getting the right results."

The company's next challenge is to find a new factory when the old Husband's yard is demolished later this year and they hope to move to an adjacent site.

"We are looking to employ more people from the local area if we can get even a portion of the work we are bidding for, so it would be nice to stay in Marchwood," said Mr Buckley, a trophy winning veteran of the Whitbread Round the World Race. CML provides a custom composite moulding service for industrial and architectural clients as well as the marine industry.

Their team of experienced moulders and carpenters have 160 years of experience between them.

CML's order book is looking healthy with work under way on a number of exciting projects.