MORE than 60 jobs are to be created in Darlington after business leaders gave out £12,000 worth of grants.

Businesses in the tourism, sales promotion and manufacturing sectors are to benefit from the cash windfall.

The money has been provided by the economic regeneration unit at Darlington Borough Council.

Broadwood Building Accessories will be the main job creator, with plans to employ up to 50 people manufacturing a range of laminated building boards.

Company directors Terry Simmons and Andrew Peart said they expected to begin producing the innovative building material later in the year.

The council has also offered a grant of £1,500 towards marketing costs.

The scheme attracted offers of help from the Government Office in the North-East and Business Link Tees Valley.

Harewood Lodge Guest House, in Grange Road, has received £3,000 towards providing three extra bedrooms with en-suite facilities.

The council says tourism is a growing part of the local economy and should be supported.

Exploring Britain was offered £2,345 towards set-up costs at Morton Park, where it plans to employ five people producing tourism guide books.

GR Visual Communications got a grant of £500 to assist with expansion costs and the provision of an extra worker in its commercial photography studio at Morton Park.

Pro-Actif Communications was awarded grants totalling £3,000 towards creating three jobs and work on its High Northgate premises.

Fresh and frozen meats producer, Country Valley Foods, received a grant of £1,500 to install security television cameras as part of improvement work at Hurworth Moor, where more jobs are forecast.

The company has also received a grant from the council's Northgate Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme towards repair and renovation works to the exterior of the building.

Council economic regeneration spokesman Councillor David Lyonette said: "These grants, paid out over the last two months, demonstrate the on-going investment made by the council to help create sustainable jobs and to support the expansion plans of local businesses."