A Leading Tees Valley engineering firm is hoping to secure more work in the Middle East after buying a company with a long history of projects in the region.

The PX Group, which is best known for managing and operating facilities such as the Teesside Gas Processing Plant (TGPP) at Seal Sands, has bought Stockton based engineering firm Simpson Coulson Limited (SCL).

The PX Group, employing 300 and itself Stockton based, also has experience in the commissioning and construction of facilities as well as project management, with recent projects including a pipeline to bring gas from the Breagh field, in the North Sea, to Teesside.

It is hoping that the acquisition of SCL, which it has previously worked with on a number of projects in the UK, will enable it to further expand its services overseas.

SCL, whose name will be retained, has been established for more than 30 years and has worked on projects across the world, with a well established reputation in the Middle East.

The PX Group's business development director David Henderson said: "We have worked very successfully with SCL on a number of key projects in the UK and identified that the skills it offers would enhance the existing PX business.

"By combining our capabilities and SCL's experience both in the UK and the Middle East, we are very confident of providing an attractive and comprehensive service offer to our clients, winning new business and strengthening the px brand.

"Combining PX Solutions - our specialist front end development business - with SCL engineering expertise means we now cover all aspects of project development, from conception through to engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations and maintenance and energy trading."

The group said that SCL's experience in carrying out engineering work in sectors such as petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals would complement its own experience in waste management, fuel storage, biofuels and the oil and gas industries.

In addition it was hoped the new venture would have the capability to undertake infrastructure projects including hotels, hospitals, schools, sports facilities and commercial and residential.

SCL senior partner Trevor Arnold said: "This is an exciting development. We can compete with the major players and have already started to win work with large companies in the Middle East.

"These projects give us the opportunity to expand from a positive start."