A North-East family business has opened new premises with funding support from Barclays.

Funeral Directors John Blenkiron & Sons Limited has opened the new larger site in Galgate, Barnard Castle, County Durham and also operate further sites in Bishop Auckland and Richmond.  The company, which was established in 1967 and is now operated by the second generation of the Blenkiron family, is able to arrange funerals from the traditional to the unconventional.

James Blenkiron, director of the firm, said: "We already operate across County Durham and North Yorkshire, so opening a larger site in Barnard Castle realises  a long term ambition.  As independent family run Funeral Directors operating in an increasingly competitive market we are committed to providing the highest possible standards of care to our clients.  The significant investment in these new premises demonstrates our commitment to the people of Teesdale and beyond.”

The new larger site, formerly a car showroom, provides both office and chapel of rest facilities together with off street parking and has created three new jobs locally. The company employs 15 staff throughout the region and recently purchased a fleet of vehicles.

Funding for the new premises has been provided through Barclays and Michael Wicks, Barclays Senior Business Banking Manager said: "John Blenkiron and Sons Ltd is a longstanding customer and it is a great example of a well run family business with an astute and strategic management team. It's great to see a local company bucking the current economic conditions and this deal highlights our appetite to support quality customers in a tough market"