Dozens of new jobs are being created thanks to financial support from a local council.

Almost 90 new jobs will be created over the next three years in a variety of businesses either relocating or expanding in Darlington, after grants of £30,036 were awarded from the Falchion Fund.

Among those involved is Bodycare International, a sun tanning and beauty centre, on Blackett Road, which is aiming to create 42 new jobs when it expands.

Whessoe Europe is also hoping to create 23 jobs when it relocates from Newton Aycliffe to the town.

David Lyonette, the council's cabinet member for economic regeneration said: "The council's economic regeneration team works with its partners and with employers to create jobs.

"This money will help new businesses relocate to Darlington and it will allow existing small and medium-sized businesses the opportunity to expand and grow and that means more new jobs for the town."

A total of eight companies have won grants after successfully showing that the money would help them to create employment for the town.

The other companies to have received grants are Signs Express on the Yarm Road Business Park; Tensor Marketing in Lingfield Way; Chris Guy Fixings at Morton Park; Forge House Models on the Cleveland Trading Estate; Recognition Marketing in McMullen Road and Adrenalin Moto in Whessoe Road.

The Falchion Fund is run by Darlington Borough Council, Darlington Business Venture and the HSBC.

It recently awarded £18,000 to another two companies, Shadow Tech UK, and QA International Certification.

Shadow Tech, based in Whessoe Road, will use its £8,000 loan to expand and hopes to employ more people over the coming three years.

QA International Certification, based in Cleveland Street, Darlington, will create several new jobs by the end of 2003 thanks to its loan of £10,000.