SHADOW foreign secretary William Hague stressed the importance of the hire industry to the economy when he opened a new depot in the region.

Richmond MP Mr Hague opened Yorkshire-based SHC Hire Centre’s new depot in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, at a ceremony, on Friday.

SHC, a family-run business which supplies hire equipment to commercial and DIY markets, already has depots in Skipton, Ilkley and Ripon.

Mr Hague said in current difficult economic circumstances it was good to see a company which was "bucking the trend" by expanding.

He said: "The rural nature of North Yorkshire means service industries, such as the hire sector, play an ever-more vitally important role in the economy.

"In straitened circumstances, many people will choose to hire over buying."

SHC managing director Claire Gains said the firm – formed in 1981 – was delighted to be creating jobs during tough trading conditions.

The company employs 30 people in all and the new depot created three jobs.

She said: "We had planned this extension to our offering as a strategic growth for the business before the economic downturn.

"Like others, we are weathering the recession, and our view is we will emerge stronger by sticking to our plans."