THE multi-million pound feud between engineering firm Cleveland Bridge and its former bosses on the Wembley Stadium project intensified last night (FRI).

The North-East company went to the Court of Technology and Construction, an off-shoot of the High Court, to claim that it is owed £21million by Australian giant Multiplex.

Bosses made their move after Multiplex launched legal action on Thursday claiming that it was in fact entitled to between £25m and £30m from the Darlington firm.

It also emerged last night that Cleveland Bridge is celebrating a third financial windfall after a ruling from an independent adjudicator.

Last month, Multiplex, the main contractor on Wembley, was ordered to make payments of £423,000 and just over £1.5m to Cleveland Bridge.

The first two announcements came about after Multiplex launched legal proceedings, claiming that it was owed cash by Cleveland Bridge.

However, adjudications found the opposite - that Cleveland Bridge was entitled to money from Multiplex.

The initial two payments have been made and last night it emerged that a further £500,000 was to be paid to the North-East firm.

The third pay-out will bring the total awarded to Cleveland Bridge so far to £2,480,980.

Cleveland Bridge is also thought to be considering raising further adjudications in the near future.

A spokesman said last night: "Cleveland Bridge expects, as prescribed by the adjudicator, for the £500,000 awarded to be paid during the course week commencing November 8. A further adjudication result is expected next week."

Multiplex said last night that it was happy with the adjudication process and the outcomes.

Of the High Court case, a spokesman said: "Multiplex has issued its claim and the reason for doing this is to get things sorted out soon. It has been dragging on for so long now."

Cleveland Bridge, which won a £60m contract to build the London venue's showpiece arch and roof, stopped work in August as the dispute escalated.

As a result, 95 jobs in Darlington had to be cut. More than 200 steelworkers at Wembley also lost their jobs but, after lengthy discussions involving their unions, were reinstated.