THE Government says its key job creation scheme has given £137m to North-East businesses to help their expansion.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), which has supported a number of regional companies, also helped deliver £679.6m of private investment.

He added it has put more than £1bn into the hands of businesses across the UK, helping to generate £3bn private sector investment and create and secure more than 100,000 jobs.

Previous RGF winners in the region include sheet metal and tube bending firm Hydram Engineering, in Chilton, near Ferryhill, County Durham, which said it would use the cash to create more than 60 jobs and invest in machinery.

Precision engineer Darchem, in Stillington, near Darlington, received £1m in an earlier round to help fund an £8m 75,000sq ft nuclear factory, and chemicals company Fine Industries, in Seal Sands, near Billingham, said it would increase its workforce and expand its plant with RGF support.

Dr Cable said: “The RGF has secured almost £817m in the North-East and £4bn in investment in the UK as a whole.

“This is a great achievement, helping workers and businesses across the country to be the engines of growth in the recovery.”