AN engineering company that has moved to £3.5m premises is celebrating winning the biggest contract in its 50-year history.

Allerton Engineering now operates from a purpose-built 30,000sq ft factory in Thurston Road, Northallerton.

The structural steel, structural engineering and bridge-building company now employs 76 people, its largest number ever, and is recruiting more skilled tradespeople.

Since its move from the centre of Northallerton to the factory, the company has won its biggest contract, on the strength of its increased capacity and flexibility.

On Friday, the premises were opened by employee Geoff Robinson. He joined the company in 1954 at the age of 15 as its first apprentice sheet-metal worker.

He worked his way up through foreman and works manager to operations director. In the 1980s, he led the team that rescued the business from receivership during the recession.

Mr Robinson, whose sons, Paul and Steve, also work at the company, is now an operational consultant to the business and managed the move to the factory. He said: "There may have been ups and downs over the years, but we have never looked back

"I have started a lot of good people on and we have built up a very strong team, which is why I recommended my sons to work here.

"The new factory is fantastic and will help us go from strength to strength. This is a proud day for me."

In the past, the business has completed projects throughout the UK as well as in Ireland, Europe, India, Egypt and the Far East.

Chairman Lawrence Ellis said: "We have a full order book and a fabulous new factory, but the company is where it is today because of the quality of its people.

"They are the reason we decided to invest and remain in Northallerton."

The factory was built by integrated design build and development company, Severfield-Reeve Projects, based in Thirsk.

Managing director Lindsay Ross said: "It has been great to work with a manufacturing company which is brimming with confidence and success."