CANAL boat builder Riverside Narrowboats has set sail for success after fulfilling its first order.

The Thornaby business has transported a 57ft long vessel from the Tees Valley to a customer in Berkshire.

When managing director Graham Morrow established the business in November 2001, it was the first in the Tees Valley to build high quality steel narrow boats to exact customer specifications.

The company is based on the banks of the River Tees in Robert Street, a traditional home for shipbuilding and steel fabrication.

It employs two staff, Andy Bagshaw, who has a background in narrow boat manufacture, and apprentice engineer Kelly Wilberforce.

The company is looking for larger premises to allow it to take on more staff to produce more boats.

Mr Morrow set up the business when a customer of a sister firm, Morrow Engineering, was looking to buy a narrow boat. He decided the idea was worth pursuing and set about establishing the business.

Mr Morrow said: "Having focused on engine repairs for a number of years it was a big risk to branch out into the canal boat market. However, we carried out extensive research which showed there was a market out there, particularly in this region."

In order to turn his dream into a reality, Mr Morrow enlisted the help of Business Link.

Business advisor Eric Whitehouse helped the business to produce an action plan and also gave advice on suitable funding, which led to applications for grants from Stockton Borough Council and the North-East Investment Fund.

Through carefully targeted advertising in key industry publications and the creation of a website, Riverside Narrowboats has already attracted inquiries which have begun to materialise into orders.

The first order for the customer in Berkshire was completed last week.

Mr Whitehouse said: "Riverside Narrowboats is an impressive business which has shown early potential for high growth. The hard work and dedication of Graham and the team to complete their first boat has been overwhelming."