ENGINEERING services company Amec has agreed a $280m deal for a US firm.

Amec, which employs 400 workers at its industrial headquarters in Darlington and 100 at Wynyard Park, said it had agreed to buy US engineering and environmental services company Mactec.

The Georgia based firm, employing 2,600 people in 70 offices, provides similar services to Amec's Earth & Environmental (E&E) business, including environmental planning, assessment and remediation, infrastructure engineering, water resources and construction support services.

The deal, which is expected to be completed by the end of next month, will give Amec a stronger foothold in the eastern United States, where Mactec mainly works.

The E&E business has a stronger presence in the western US and Canada, so Amec believed the deal would benefit both parties by also giving Mactec a stronger international platform.

Amec's Chief Executive, Samir Brikho, said: "This acquisition provides Amec with the right scale to service this important and growing environmental and infrastructure engineering services market."

Mactec chief executive Ann Massey said: "Together, we offer a strong, global platform of consulting, engineering, and project management expertise.

"The close alignment between our companies' cultures, services and expertise will provide immediate value to our customers and foster future growth."