Primark, the clothing manufacturer, yesterday opened another outlet, in Hartlepool, England, bringing its total number of shops in Britain and Ireland to 83, and its workforce close to 5,000, the company said yesterday. Since 1990, Primark, which trades in Ireland as Penneys, has invested some £40 million in new stores and refurbishments. "We have succeeded in managing a programme of growth and development over the past 10 years that has positioned us as a significant player in the market," said Ms Breege O'Donoghue, a director of the firm.