A NORTH-EAST offshore fire and blast protection specialist has won an industry honour.

MTE Ltd, in Darlington, picked up the Lombard Award for Best Small to Medium Enterprise at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence Awards.

Marshall Garner, from MTE, said: “This recognises not only what we have achieved, but also our programmes to achieve further improvements in the future.”

MTE designs and makes products to protect people from blast, fire and radiant heat hazards.

Earlier this year, The Northern Echo revealed the firm, also known as Mech-Tool Engineering, was continuing to expand after it launched a venture with Philippines-based offshore module fabricator AG&P to open up new South-East Asian markets.

It has also opened new offices to bolster its business development and design and engineering divisions at Darlington's Morton Palms.

They added to its existing headquarters in Darlington as well as manufacturing sites in the town and on the banks of Middlesbrough's River Tees.