NORTH Yorkshire Timber has appointed two directors, with more than 50 years' experience in the industry between them, to develop its growing number of branches across the region.

The directors will support branch managers in increasing sales of timber and builders' merchants products, introducing new products and expanding customer base.

ROB TIMMENS will be responsible for the branches in the south of the region, covering seven bases from Ripon to Wingate, and VIC BELLAS will look after the branches in the North of the region, including Sunderland, North Shields and South Shields.

Mr Timmens has worked in the timber industry for more than 25 years. Progressing from assistant manager to branch manager with builders' merchants company Jewsons. He became the manager of North Yorkshire Timber's Northallerton branch in 2005. Mr Bellas started at Joseph Thompson Timber in Sunderland more than 25 years ago. He was general manager when the firm was taken over by North Yorkshire Timber in 2000.