A NORTH-East firm is building strong foundations in Ireland after being awarded the contract for a new library extension at a Dublin college.

Baydale Architectural Systems, of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has received the £200,000 contract for Trinity College.

The contract covers the supply of custom-made internal glazed screens and doors in the library project, which is currently undergoing construction.

Baydale has secured more than £1m worth of contracts in Dublin, including the National Gallery of Ireland and a major eight-storey office building in the city centre.

This latest award is good news for the 48 staff employed at the firm's 25,000ft premises. Baydale has a turnover of £3m as a leading manufacturer of fire-resistant doors, screens and specialist glazed products.

Jon Smith, managing director of the firm, said: "Baydale is building a strong portfolio of clients in Ireland due to a concerted marketing effort by the company over the past two years and an excellent product."

The library at Trinity College is the largest research library in Ireland and the new extension will link the two existing buildings at the facility and create an extra 750 reader spaces.