THE jobs of all 87 workers at Hartlepool-based building trade supply company Expamet have been saved after the firm was bought out of administration.

The 120-year-old business, which supplies plasterers' accessories and metal construction products to building merchants, called in the administrators on Wednesday citing "difficult trading conditons." The business and assets were sold to Birtley Building Products Limited, near Chester-le-Street.

Robert Hebenton, joint administrator and director at PwC for the North, said: "Like many businesses in the construction sector supply chain, the business has experienced difficult trading conditions throughout the last two years, with margins coming under significant pressure.

"As a consequence, the directors have reached the difficult decision to seek to have the company placed into administration as sufficient funding could not be secured to continue to trade solvently.

"All parties involved have worked extremely hard to ensure a viable solution for the business in securing the deal with Birtley Building Products, and preserving a vital source of local employment."

The firm recorded a turnover of around £23.5m last year and was acquired by a new management team in 2010.