TRANSPORT, waste and industrial group Hargreaves Services has said its recent acquisition of a rival was helping it make good progress.

The County Durham company said the integration of Imperial Tankers, which it bought for £5m last month, was proceeding smoothly, and added a vital component to the potential growth of the company.

In a statement from the group's annual meeting yesterday, chairman Tim Ross said: "The integration into the group of Imperial Tankers Limited has started and is proceeding smoothly.

"Together with the business of Hargreaves Bulk Liquid Tankers and Gilbraiths, the acquisition of Imperial greatly increases the critical mass of our bulk liquid tanker operations and provides an additional depot in the North-East to complement existing depots in the North-West and the Midlands."

Mr Ross said the group, which has its headquarters near Esh Winning, had seen a growth in its order book, with several contracts won and others renewed.

He said the acquisition, as well as the good performances from the group's other divisions, was helping to ensure its results for the first quarter would be closely in line with expectations and that the board remained confident the group would proceed in accordance with the directors' expectations.