A SHOWER company is to continue its search for talented engineering students in the South Durham area.

After a successful first year, Roman Shower Enclosures, based in Newton Aycliffe, is offering three more places on its scholarship programme with Darlington College of Technology.

The company employs 125 people, with further new jobs in prospect after a £1.2m factory extension, opened in January by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The scholarship programme is designed to attract and identify bright and committed students who are seeking a career in manufacturing.

Gerry Osborne, the company's managing director, said: "Even though this is an area of high unemployment, we were finding it difficult to recruit people of the right calibre.

"We have established a three-year forecast of staff needs in each department, and my concern led me to prepare a plan on our future employment policy and strategy."

The subsequent agreement struck with the National Diploma of Engineering at the college has already provided the company with four permanent staff.

Eamonn McStravick and Ian Simpson were the first to benefit from the scholarship, followed by Alex Crawley and Rory Edwards this summer.

A spokesman for the college said: "As well as the sense of security that Roman's scholarship gives to deserving students, my colleagues and I get a valuable insight into the practical demands of manufacturing today, and can tailor our tuition accordingly.