THE man drafted in to help save one of the North-East's most famous companies last night said the future was secure - despite work being due to run out in the summer.

Jon Dale, who was appointed president of Darlington-based Cleveland Bridge this year, said its Saudi Arabian owners had pumped "millions upon millions" of pounds into the faltering company - and they would not allow it to die.

Although work is due to run out by July, Mr Dale said he was confident of winning more contracts before then.

Cleveland Bridge, famous for building the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Forth Road Bridge in Edinburgh, and the Victoria Falls bridge in Zimbabwe, was brought to its knees last year after a conflict with the main contractors of the Wembley Stadium.

More than 300 workers were made redundant and the number of shop floor workers dropped to its lowest level in four decades.

But Mr Dale told The Northern Echo that Cleveland's major shareholders, Al Rushaid, Saudi Arabia's ninth largest company, would "back it to the hilt".

He said: "The Al Rushaid group has invested more in Cleveland Bridge than it has seen in years - I won't say exactly how much, but it is millions upon millions. It shows their confidence in Cleveland Bridge and their determination to make it succeed."

After building and raising the iconic arch on the new Wembley Stadium, management at Cleveland pulled out because it claimed the main contractor, Multiplex, had failed to provide it with all the designs it needed to carry out its work properly.

Both organisations claim the other owes it money.

Mr Dale said: "It is this enormous corporation against little Cleveland Bridge. Cleveland Bridge has won five adjudications already, so there is a lot of confidence in the case.

"Al Rushaid is quite prepared to back this company to the hilt and it is a fantastic show of confidence."