BLAST furnace manufacturer VAI UK is creating 100 jobs after winning a multi-million pound contract in Brazil.

The company, which has offices on the site of the former Head Wrightson steelworks, in Thornaby, has won an order worth £120m.

The contract will provide work for at least two years and joins a long list of blast furnace contracts it has won recently.

Managing director Roy Tazzyman said: "There is one new blast furnace built every year in the entire world so to win this contract is a tremendous achievement."