STAFF at a new council-backed business advice centre are celebrating after it was revealed they helped 85 companies in its first year.

Advice given by the Derwentside District Council marketing agency has led to seven firms expanding and another 13 moving to new marketing sectors.

The council has been at the cutting edge of job creation schemes since the closure of Consett steelworks 20 years ago.

Marketing advice officer Jill Lloyd said: "The beauty of the project is its flexible approach.

"Every company has an individual set of competencies and needs which structure the way the marketing advice initiative is implemented. The first year of the project has set a strong foundation on which we can build in future years."

She said one-man operations to companies employing 250 workers had been helped.

Derwentside council's head of industrial development John Pearson said: "We are delighted by the positive response companies have shown to our marketing advice initiative. The service has actively helped to bridge the marketing gap in many small and medium sized businesses."

The agency is in the civic centre, in Consett.