A VISUAL effects business which creates illusions for live shows , films and television is more than doubling its capacity after buying a new site.

Twins Worldwide Limited was launched in 2010 by twin brothers Gary and Paul Hardy-Brown and has created effects for Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds, Doctor Who Live, Strictly Come Dancing and the Hollywood movie Now You See Me 2.

It has bought a new 8,000sqft site in Sandford Lane, Wareham, with the support of a £280,000 loan from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Sixty per cent of its orders are for pantomimes and the business experiences a surge in orders in the first quarter of the year as its clients start to plan shows for the following festive season.

The new property, opposite its existing Station Road storage site, will help fulfil those contracts and enable the business to take on more large-scale projects. It aims to increase annual turnover by 70 per cent in the next two years, with the previous 3,500sqft manufacturing space used to store props.

The acquisition will create six new jobs, including warehouse manager roles and model makers, creating an 11-strong full-time workforce.

Gary Hardy-Brown said: “We have a unique proposition and are committed to going the extra mile. The reputation we have built means we have the opportunity to work on some high-profile shows across the festive season.

“Our creative colleagues work all year round to prepare bespoke designs for entertainment shows at Christmas. The new manufacturing site is going to allow us to work on even bigger projects in the months ahead.

“The next step in the road is to start working with overseas shows in the likes of the US. The loan provided by Lloyds Bank means we can finally focus our efforts on making this dream a reality.”

Steve Dewey, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Twins Worldwide is a phenomenal business and has worked on some impressive shows, which is only set to continue with the purchase of the new building.

“As a seasonal business, it is particularly important for firms like this to manage their cash flows to be able to deliver on big contracts all at the same time. Budgeting will ensure other growth plans are not impacted by the extra costs of having increased stock on site, for example, or in this case, raw materials.

“We want to support smaller manufacturing businesses, like Gary and Paul’s, as they navigate new terrain both domestically and internationally. That’s why we’ve provided more than £4billion of funding to the manufacturing sector to help Britain prosper, beating our four-year commitment six months early.”