Historic pottery firm Moorcroft is aiming to restart production by the end of July - with workers said to be 'ecstatic' after the business was secured.

The new owner, Will Moorcroft, whose grandfather William Moorcroft built the factory on Sandbach Road in Cobridge in 1913, said the positive reaction to him taking on the business has been "very humbling". 

He says more than 30 staff members may be able to return by the end of July to restart production but admitted he hasn't even turned on the lights yet due to it now being the Potters' Holiday. 

Moorcroft had been family-owned until 2006 when Will's father retired and the pottery firm ceased trading in April, with the loss of 57 jobs.

It was confirmed Moorcroft had been brought back into family ownership earlier this month. (LDRS)

Will told Stoke Nub News: "I've always wanted to be involved in the business but it wasn't until April when the world heard the news, along with me, that I thought there may be an opportunity. 

"So for the six weeks after that, it was a case of frantically trying to put a package together. So it was six weeks of mayhem and stress.

"Hopefully we will have a chunk of the staff back by the end of July and that is when we will kickstart production again.

"The majority will return. We may be looking at 30 plus people - which in one hit on day one is not bad going."

He says there are still some details to work out ahead of production restarting and was unable to give an exact amount of people who would be able to return to work.

"When people have that much passion for a product, whether it is Moorcoft or someone else, it's great to see that and people don't know me so it is great that they can relate back to my father and grandfather and wish me well taking on the business. 

"There has been a little bit of uncertainty but I have been able to meet with everyone now who came to a meeting last week and I was gobsmacked with how many attended, I wasn't expecting quite that many, but it's fantastic.

"I think since there has been a little bit of a boost and I think everyone is now ecstatic and wanting to come back and carry on what they do best which is the art, design and skilled work - which makes Moorcroft what it is. 

"I haven't switched a lightbulb on yet so I may be in for a bit of a rude awakening when I fire everything up but I think any conversation which is had at government level or in Parliament is positive."

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