AN Engineering company has announced plans to double the size of its workforce during the next three years.

Work has started on a £3m factory for Allerton Engineering, of Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

The structural engineering, bridge building and structural steel company, founded 50 years ago, joined Hambleton District Council and developer Severfield-Reeve Projects to mark the start of work on the multi-million pound facility at Darlington Road Industrial Estate.

The company said it intended to almost double its 65-strong workforce.

Allerton Engineering chairman Lawrence Ellis said: "We are delighted that building work on our new facility is now under way to seal our future in the community where our roots have been for half a century.

"This is the start of a new era, which holds many benefits for us, our expanding workforce and the local community.

"Our order book is healthy and the new facility will enable us to treble our capacity and meet the quality needs of our customers worldwide, whether it is for bridges, cranes, plate girders or offshore structures."

The company asked Severfield-Reeve Projects, of Thirsk, North Yorkshire, to build the factory, after Hambleton District Council gave the go-ahead last year for the residential development of Allerton's site in Romanby Road. That development enabled it to pay for the new factory.

Mick Jewitt, Hambleton District Council head of planning policy and economic development, said: "We realise that Allerton Engineering could have moved out of Hambleton and are delighted to have helped to secure its future in the district where its continuing success can benefit the local people and economy."

The factory will use the latest production methods, more efficient processes and will bring environmental benefits to Northallerton by moving industrial processes and heavy lorries away from a residential area.

Severfield-Reeve Projects managing director Lindsay Ross said: "Allerton Engineering is a long-standing business partner of our group and we are delighted to help it bring its new production facility to reality."