A FAMILY-RUN parcel delivery business looks set to wrap up record annual profits of at least £1m as the number of people making a living through internet trading soars.

Parcel2go.com, based on Coe Street, Bolton, expects sales for the 12 months to March 31 to reach £10m, up from £6.2m last year.

Pre-tax profits are forecast to come in at just over £1m, up from £260,000.

The company, owned by founder and chief executive Fil Adams-Mercer, is enjoying rapid growth thanks to the increasing popularity of online auction websites such as eBay.

Mr Adams-Mercer's son Richard, the firm's business development director, said last year's postal strikes had helped it attract customers who have remained loyal.

Parcel2go.com operates an internet portal so individuals and SMEs can arrange deliveries of parcels by companies such as FedEX, DHL and City Link.

It also runs a warehouse, from where it despatches outdoor leisure items such as trampolines and pools, fitness equipment, kettles, toasters and other electrical goods. The business employs a total of 30 staff, including Fil's daughter Anneka, who is the imports manager.

It currently handles the delivery of more than 750,000 parcels a year.

"We handle packages of all shapes, sizes and numbers, ranging from a single package from a private household to repeat bulk orders from blue-chip companies, and we have seen growth right across the board," said Richard.

"Internet retailing is expected to double by 2010, so we expect our business to do the same - even without increasing our market share.

"We're looking to make further strides to develop the company, to not only ensure short-term success but to make us a vibrant and robust business for many years to come."

As well as building up its UK business, Parcel2go has dev-eloped a significant proportion of its bookings to and from the US, the Far East and Poland.

Fil Adams-Mercer launched the firm as F.A.M. Logistics with a fleet of delivery vans and set up online operations in 2000.