DUPONT Nylon is ploughing a further £7m into its plant at Wilton.

The announcement takes the company's total capital expenditure on its Teesside plant over the past seven years to a massive £250m.

DuPont Nylon's latest investment enables the company to embark on a project of modernisation of the production facility, replacing the control system in its Polymer plant with the most up-to-date technology.

The plant employs more than 480 people and the company sees the investment as a further indication of its confidence in and commitment to its Teesside business.

Gordon Jones, polymer area superintendent, said the news was refreshingly positive.

He said: "Everyone on the Nylon site is delighted that the DuPont corporation continues to invest in our site facilities on such a significant scale.

"This latest project will give the plant a tremendous boost and foundation to build on for the future. It enhances the capability of the whole of the Nylon manufacturing units here at Wilton."

He said: "I hope that it is a welcome lift for people in the Teesside area to hear about investment coming into the region in the light of recent news.

"We are now focused on the safe and effective delivery of the project."

DuPont Nylon at Wilton produces nylon chemical intermediates, nylon salt and nylon polymer.