A NEWTON Aycliffe factory has been commended for its outstanding contribution to health and safety.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has awarded a gold medal to 3M Aycliffe.

The award was presented by RoSPA president Lord Faulkner of Worcester at a ceremony in Birmingham attended by seven representatives from the Heighington Lane site.

3M safety engineer Adrian Hughes said: "We are all delighted with this recognition which reflects the commitment of everyone at the site to health and safety and the ongoing contribution they make towards continuous improvement."