A QUEEN’S Award winning chemical firm has won a Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies prize.

Catalytic Technologies, in Stockton, impressed judges to secure £10,000 and mentoring.

The company developed an environmentally-friendly titanium catalyst for the production of polyethylene terephthalate (Pet), which makes a clearer plastic more stable under high temperatures.

It previously received a Queen's Award for Innovation.

Dr Richard Ward, technical manager, said: “We really didn’t expect to win as the standard in the final was so high.

“Plastic bottles aren’t particularly sexy science, so it’s really great to see our technology getting some recognition for the potential impact it can have.

“We’ll be using our cash prize to hire a patent attorney to help us to the next step.”