A PRIVATE engineering and construction firm has taken over the site contracts of failed firm Hartlepool Fabrications.

Cordell Group, of Stockton, took on the firm's site construction operations under the umbrella of its Structures Teesside subsidiary, acquired in April.

The acquisition will safeguard 25 Hartlepool Fabrications jobs.

The group's managing director David Rush revealed it was the second time Cordell had tried to take over the company.

Mr Rush said: "Having failed in our attempt to acquire Hartlepool Fabrications last year when it first went into administration, we are extremely pleased to have been successful in acquiring their site construction activities second time around.

"Hartlepool Fabrications site operations are an extremely good fit with Cordell's other multi-disciplined design, fabrication and construction activities.

"We believe that the management skills and experience that we will bring to these operations will in due course lead to a significant expansion of our current business, particularly in the field of providing term contract maintenance and project services".

Cordell employs more than 260 staff at five locations on Teesside.