TWO of the region's manufacturing businesses are to create jobs after sharing grants worth more than £87,000.

Ten jobs will be created by Cleveland Technologies, at Redcar, and nine at Posi-thread, Washington.

Cleveland Technologies is made up of three companies, Weyfringe Barcode and Labelling, Cleveland Circuits and Connect 2 Technology.

The Government has awarded the company an RSA grant of £27,450 to buy automatic test equipment at Cleveland Circuits.

Andrew Gleghorn, managing director at Cleveland Technologies, said: "The grant has allowed us to purchase expensive automatic test systems during a time of uncertainty in the industry."

Posi-thread was awarded £60,000.

Vicky Young, company secretary, said: "This grant means the company can afford the expenditure to market our products worldwide."