HE ended the UK's 77-year wait for a British Wimbledon tennis champion, and now Andy Murray's North-East namesake is hoping to make a similarly good impression in his new role.

Mr Murray, a former Army bomb disposal expert, has been taken on by chemical company, Lucite International, in a drive to employ more ex-military service personnel.

The acrylics maker, which has a plant in Billingham, near Stockton, has also recruited ex-RAF regimental gunner, Steve Lawther, former Royal Navy weapons engineer, Louise Townsend, Mark Brown, who was previously an Army colour sergeant, and ex-Army engineer, Daniel Wilson.

The quintet were attracted to the Teesside processing industry after an recruitment day at the Wilton Centre, near Redcar, two years ago, and have undergone training to carry out their roles.

Mr Wilson said: “Jobs are being shed in the forces due to the cuts that are taking place, so it was fantastic to be able to land an opportunity for work that would utilise the skills we already had with a firm so close to home.”

Melanie Jury, site director at Lucite's Billingham Cassel Works site, said: “They bring real commitment and discipline to their work and they already have many of the skills that we require.”