CAR manaufacturers have given renewed hope to car dealership workers made redundant following the collapse of South Cleveland Garages (SCG).

Companies are in talks about setting up several dealerships in the Tees Valley.

If successful, the move could mean jobs for some of the 300 made redundant following the collapse of SCG.

Manufacturers including Suzuki, Hyundai and Mitsubishi have indicated they were in talks to find buyers for their former SCG franchises.

A spokesman for Suzuki said talks to find a dealer to take over the company's Middlesbrough site or to introduce the franchise into a separate dealership were at an advanced stage.

Car retailer SCG was forced to close eight dealerships across Teesside when it went into administration last month.

Two former SCG dealerships in Hartlepool have been taken over by Williamson Motors and Reg Vardy.