THE future of a North-East engineering firm was secured last night as it clinched a £16m contract - ensuring 150 jobs were safe.

Orders at Cleveland Bridge, based in Darlington, were due to run out by July, but the new contract will start immediately and last for two years.

The contract is for the refurbishment of the Tay Road Bridge in Dundee.

The Northern Echo has learned that the company - which built the Forth Road Bridge in Edinburgh and the Victoria Falls Bridge in Zimbabwe - is close to signing a handful of other contracts.

A company spokeswoman said: "This is great news for Cleveland Bridge.

"This piece of business makes sure that the existing team are going to be busy for some time to come."

Managing director Brian Rogan said: "I am delighted for the dedicated team at Cleveland Bridge that we have secured this major contract win and am convinced that this is just the first of a number of contracts that will be coming our way."

The company has had a turbulent year, from a high point of building the arch at the new Wembley Stadium, to a low of a long-running dispute with Wembley's main contractor Multiplex -which led to 300 job losses. Each company claims the other owes it money, and the two are to meet in court later this year.

Cleveland president Jon Dale was confident it would win the case. It has already been awarded about £5m.