Acrylics manufacturer Lucite International has gained national recognition for sustaining a world-class safety performance on Teesside.

The firm, which has a 330-strong workforce at Billingham, has won the Chemical Industries Association Diamond Award.

The award is only given to companies that can demonstrate ten consecutive years of "gold" standard safe working - measured against the absence of injuries.

Lucite's workers, and 50 permanent contractors, have worked for more than 1.65 million hours without an injury reportable to the Health and Safety Executive.

It is the first time in the company's 74-year history on Teesside that its Cassel works site at Billingham has won such an award. Lucite's Darwen site in Lancashire entered with Cassel and will also share in the award.

Bosses of the firm, which manufactures the raw materials to make baths, signs and paints, will be presented with the trophy at a awards ceremony next month.

Their achievement automatically puts Lucite in line for the Platinum Site Safety Award for the best site in the UK, which will be announced the same evening.