AN engineering firm is predicting a bright future for its workforce with sales and turnover continuing to grow.

The Forge House Group has seen sales up 70 per cent on the same period last year, and is likely to see turnover for this financial year at £1.5m compared to last year's figure of £950,000.

The Darlington firm underwent a management buy-out two and a half years ago and has since seen its workforce double to 40.

Managing director Ron Harker said: "As a result of the hard work of the new management, and inward investments of all profits, the group's balance sheet has been turned round from a huge deficit to a figure which is substantially in the black."

The group's sales have grown so quickly that additional operating finance became needed with an agreement from the North East Investment Fund for a loan of £100,000.

As well as engineering design, the firm also supplies engineering staff and has a booming model making division which last year picked up an £80,000 contract to build 24 kiosks at the much-maligned Millennium Dome.

Forge has also reaffirmed its commitment to its North-East base placing contracts with neighbouring firm, North View Engineering, with North View returning the compliment, to jointly promote and extend their engineering expertise.

Other joint ventures have been undertaken on such diverse projects as hazardous waste storage tanks, ships berthing dock sections, footbridges, and structural steelwork.