A THIRD-GENERATION distribution firm is helping bosses behind a landmark 1,000-job mining development ramp up construction.

AV Dawson has welcomed the first freight train carrying materials for Sirius Minerals’ £2.4bn York Potash project.

Bosses say the train brought aggregates to AV Dawson’s Middlesbrough base, on the banks of the River Tees, which were unloaded and moved by road to Sirius’ mine site, near Whitby.

Sirius’ development, known as the Woodsmith Mine, is expected to create more than 1,000 direct jobs and support a similar number in the supply chain when it begins operations.

It aims to extract the fertiliser polyhalite, which is reputed for its potassium, magnesium, sulphur and calcium content that encourages strong crop growth, with production planned to get underway in late 2021.

The work is a further boon for AV Dawson, which was founded in 1938 when Vernie and Eleanor Dawson spent £50 for horse Dina, her shoes and a cart to deliver coal.

More recently, officials have spent millions to strengthen operations, which has included a £2.6m investment in a rail terminal to make it a more attractive proposition for customers.

Neil McShane, rail manager, said its Sirius partnership was evidence of its enduring reputation and commitment to growth, which also saw the business create jobs and build a £3.4m deepwater quay to service larger vessels.

He added: “Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of aggregates are needed for a project of this size and we’ve been in discussions with the various teams involved for a while.

“It’s really exciting to see this first train bringing aggregates into our rail terminal.

“We’re on hand to support the project in a number of ways, including rail and road haulage, importing material through our quayside and also providing a stockpiling facility to allow Sirius to better manage supplies.”

Sirius last week confirmed formal construction has now started on its mine after weeks of preparatory work, which has included road improvements.

Earlier this year, The Northern Echo revealed the business, which has switched to the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market from the AIM Market to raise its international status, aims to start drilling mine shafts this summer, with work earmarked to begin between July and September.

The firm, which already has a stock of supply agreements in place, including a deal with a US-based firm to annually dispatch 1.5 million tonnes for at least seven years, is also speaking to potential new clients, with crop trials having started in North America, Brazil, China, Africa and Asia.

Sirius will move its polyhalite underground on a transport system to Wilton, near Redcar, where it will be stored before being delivered to customers from a new harbour.