A BUSINESSMAN is planning to say thank you to a council by handing over a painting to town hall chiefs.

Garry Ingoldsby was given a £1,000 grant by Middlesbrough Council to help him set up a branch of corporate design and print company Printing.com.

Mr Ingoldsby commissioned customer and artist Jon Hall to paint the view he has from his office of Middlesbrough Town Hall, and will hand it over to Mayor Ray Mallon today.

The company recently won the HSBC award for enterprise, as it is the fastest-growing print franchise in the UK, with a new outlet opening every week.

Mr Ingoldsby has the franchise for an area stretching from Scarborough to Consett, based on Corporation Road Middlebrough, opposite the town hall.

He said business for his first year operating from the Teesside base was better than anticipated.

"It's really important for me to see the town do well, so I am delighted to be part of its economic success and its drive to become a designer town,'' he said.

"The support from the council was important - it's good to know they support new businesses.''