AN engineering company has been taken over by a husband-and-wife team who are expanding the business through new markets.

Gary and Joanne Atwood have bought Graythorpe Forge and Engineering, in Hartlepool, from the previous owner, who was retiring.

Mr Atwood has worked at the firm for 22 years, initially serving as an apprentice and more recently as a director.

Mrs Atwood said: "Gary knew the business inside out and had been running it for the past few years. Having worked his way up through the company, he had the knowledge and the contacts and it was the obvious next step to set up together as a family business and to take the company forward to promote its services to a wider market."

She is managing the IT and administration aspects, using skills gained from running her own retail business for 13 years.

Although Graythorpe Forge and Engineering is an established business with a loyal client base, the pair still felt it was important to be fully prepared before going into the venture and so, in the planning stages, contacted Business Link for advice and support.

Graythorpe has been trading in a niche market, offering welding, fabrication and engineering and forging since it was founded in 1968.

With an established client base that includes major players in the region's chemical and manufacturing industry, the Atwoods hope to market the structural side of the business further.

Using the blacksmith operation, there also may be scope for domestic work, such as wrought iron gates, window grilles, fire escapes, spiral stairways and handrails, as well as a range of household and garden furniture.

They will also be concentrating more on marketing the business.

The Atwoods hope to recruit three more employees.