A NORTH-East company has been awarded a £5.5m design and construction deal to upgrade nine stores for Marks & Spencer.

Amec, of Sedgefield, County Durham, will carry out the work as part of the retail chain's ongoing store renewal.

During the past five years, Amec has modernised 30 of the firm's stores and the next nine, in the North of England and Scotland, will be completed during the first half of this year.

This will help Marks & Spencer meet the challenge of renewing its UK portfolio of stores, featuring merchandising strategies such as the new per una clothing range, coffee shops, beauty areas and enhanced food halls.

The work is believed to include the renewal of the stores at the MetroCentre, Durham and Hartlepool.

To meet the project's deadlines, Amec is using in-house architects, as well as sub-contractors.

Steve Slater, Amec's business unit director, said: "Amec and Marks & Spencer share a common focus on their respective customers, and the successful delivery of these challenging projects is based on our thorough understanding of Marks & Spencer's special requirements."

Ian Stott, regional manager for Marks & Spencer, said: "Our customers are delighted with the new look of our stores."