A maker and distributor of prizewinning hams has announced expansion plans.

Southover Foods is increasing capacity at its factory in Albion Road, Southwick, by 35 per cent in an attempt to boost revenues by a fifth to £6 million next year.

The decision comes after previous tenant Higgidy's, which is part-owned by Southover founders Steve and Liz Pearce, moved operations to Dolphin Road, Shoreham.

Southover is investing £300,000 refurbishing three units and buying new equipment.

One piece of kit being installed in the new year is a gammon-slicing machine which allows Southover to sell to supermarkets which demand set-weight products.

Mr Pearce said: "We are not increasing our footprint, just making better use of the space we have got, and in doing so, increasing our production capacity by a third.

"It is a lot of money to spend, but this is investment for the future."

A further five staff will be employed, taking the total number to 50.

The company is also aiming to achieve the British Retail Consortium standard next year - another must if it wants to have its products on supermarket shelves.

Southover is one of the few remaining meat manufacturers in Sussex.

Mr Pearce said it had survived by diversifying, taking care of its own distribution and being large enough to cope with legislative changes.

Former butcher Steve and wife Liz remortgaged their house in Southover Street, Brighton, to start their business in 1989.

Because the house they were plundering for equity had once been a butcher's shop, a fact discovered during a spot of DIY, the couple decided to call their company Southover Foods.

Mr Pearce has recently joined the steering group of A Taste of Sussex, a subsidiary of Sussex Enterprise, which aims to raise the profile of locally-grown food and drink.