FIFTY jobs have been created in Darlington thanks to a series of grants from the borough council.

The grants, worth a total of £18,000, have been awarded to seven Darlington businesses chosen by a council regeneration team to receive the help.

Darlington Borough Council's financial incentives panel approved the amounts this week.

One of the firms to receive a grant was Digital Office Solutions, which was awarded £7,000 towards the refurbishment of new offices and a showroom at Teesside Airport.

Managing director John Alexander said he hoped the expansion of the three-year-old business would bring 14 new jobs to Darlington.

The money will also be used by companies moving to the town for the first time.

Dice Recruitment of Derby, which will employ six staff, has been awarded a £2,000 grant to help with the cost of setting up premises at the Imperial Centre in the town centre.

The Great Northern Steam Company will also be moving its steam engine manufacturing and maintenance business to the Forge Industrial Estate with the help of a £2,000 small business grant.

Builder's merchant Darlington Building Supplies has been awarded a £2,000 grant towards start-up costs at its Lingfield Way site, where it plans to employ 12 people.

Rainbow International has been awarded a £2,000 grant to set up its fire and flood damage restoration business, employing up to 12 people at Cleveland Trading Estate.

Two firms have been given money to help them set up websites.

Carla Pessers, of Red Barns Way, supplies garden furniture to hotel chains and leisure facilities. It has been awarded a marketing grant of £1,500. A similar award has been made to the Darlington and District Business Club towards its website development costs.

David Lyonnette, the council's cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: "Our economic regeneration team has a successful track record for helping to create new and sustainable jobs and to help small and medium size businesses to grow in Darlington.

"It's really pleasing that our grants scheme is again helping to create 50 potential new jobs for Darlington people."