CONSULTANTS White Young Green recorded a record year thanks to a number of North-East projects.

Involvement in many of the region's major regeneration efforts, including Gateshead's Baltic Business Park, Sunderland arc and the Middlehaven and Teesdale business development projects, on Teesside, helped turnover increase 20 per cent to £76.6m.

WYG also worked with partners on innovative education projects including the £13m Devonshire Building at Newcastle University and the £26m New College Durham.

Adjusted profit before tax increased by 17 per cent to £5.7m.

It is the sixth year in succession the company has achieved record levels of profitability and earnings per share for the year.

Gareth Cooper, chairman, said: "The breadth of skills and markets in which the group operates and the trend towards long-term framework agreements reinforces the robustness of the group's performance.

"The year has ended with our forward order book at its highest ever level at £136m. Such a strong performance again demonstrates our ability to operate flexibly and profitability in challenging economic conditions."

The built and natural environment consultancy has offices in Newcastle and Teesside - the Tyneside base proved the most profitable of all WYG outlets.

Since WYG acquired Mason and Pittendrigh in 1999, the Newcastle office has grown from ten people to 110 in four years, and the projections are for that figure to increase to more than 120 during the current financial year.