A CONSULTANCY firm has come through what it describes as its "darkest period" to post record financial results.

Staff at structural design company AMP Consultants were devastated by the sudden death of co-founder and managing director Alan Caygill last September.

But 12 months later, the Darlington-based company has reported a 15 per cent increase in annual turnover to £487,000, and said it is urgently looking to employ qualified structural engineers and graduates.

Director David Hodgson said the improved fortunes were a legacy of the training and work ethic staff gained from their late mentor.

"Alan Caygill's death left a huge void.

"Not only was he a friend and a very talented engineer, he also dealt personally with some of our biggest clients and a large part of the day-to-day running of the business," he said.

"Thanks in no small measure to him, AMP has always enjoyed repeat business from a number of active construction, steelwork and property development companies, and this has sustained us as we restructured and found our feet again."

Mr Caygill and partners Malcolm Harding and Peter Readman, who worked together at Darlington-based Conder Structures, established AMP in 1992 after Conder closed its structural engineering division.

Mr Harding and Mr Readman had already retired from active involvement in the company when Mr Caygill died from a heart attack while cycling with his son last September.

Mr Hodgson has since bought most of Mr Caygill's shares, although his family have retained a small interest in the company.

AMP, based in Morton House, Morton Road, provides complete structural design, architectural and engineering solutions. It employs ten civil and structural engineers.

Recent flagship projects have included the redevelopment of a former petrol station site in West Auckland Road, in Darlington, to provide retail and residential accommodation.