TRAFFIC on some the region's roads was brought to a near standstill yesterday as work began to move the final sections of a new sea terminal from a North-East engineering firm.

Having successfully completed the manufacture and installation of a 250-metre walkway, and a footbridge spanning some 60 metres, North View Engineering (NVE) of Darlington began the final stage of moving the berthing deck panels.

Each one of the eight panels weighs 28 to 30 tonnes, and in a major feat of engineering, three police forces were involved in accompanying the load to Hull.

MD at NVE, Jonathan Boggon said: "This challenging project could not have been completed without the dedication, hard work and effort of all the staff involved in the project."

The contract for the new sea terminal has seen the company increase its workforce, which is believed to now stand at around 50, and the company is maintaining its goal of continued growth.

The firm based at the Goldings Works on the Cleveland Trading Estate, was started by Harold Boggon in his back garden workshop in 1953, is still run by his son Jonathan, and daughter, Pat Hawes

A recent survey rated North View as one of the fastest growing business in the Tees Valley with turnover increasing over the last few years.

As well as the new sea terminal, major contracts have been completed for the likes of British Steel and Siemens in recent years, with work going to Trinidad, Norway and Greece.

But the company is committed to the smaller businesses it has served over past half a century, and it is determined to continue doing so.

Mr Boggon added: "The large contracts like this we have won will never stop us continuing with our more traditional smaller contracts. We will never turn our smaller businesses away."