A FAMILY transport firm has spent £280,000 on new trucks.

Stiller Warehousing and Distribution says the 18-tonne vehicles include a number of safety features and have been built to meet latest emission targets.

The investment comes after the company, based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, spent in excess of £1.8m on two new warehouses and more than £1m on another range of vehicles.

Matthew Stiller, managing director, said: “It’s another sound investment after a period of steady and positive growth for the company, which reflects how well the business is doing.

“Two of the trucks are replacing old ones, while two will be new additions to our fleet and will further improve efficiency.

“They will be used to deliver to homes and small businesses throughout the North-East, which are usually in areas a full-size articulated truck cannot reach.”

Mr Stiller added the vehicles represent another sign of Stiller’s commitment to its base, having previously invested heavily in its 20-acre site on Aycliffe Business Park over recent years.

More than £1.1m was spent on a new 40,000sq ft warehouse, which increased capacity to 200,000sq ft, while it spent another £750,000 on a 40,000sq ft extension.

The company has also lifted its workforce to around 140 people.

Mr Stiller added: “We have plans to invest more over the years as we continue our ambitious growth plan to create more employment.”

Stiller, founded when a former German prisoner of war sold a herd of pigs and bought a truck, reported a turnover of just under £12m at the end of 2016.