LAND-RECLAMATION company Sirius has smashed through its target turnover for the second year running and doubled its workforce.

The Durham firm last year achieved a turnover of £7m, more than double its target, and this year has beaten expectations to almost double the figure to £13.5m.

In the past year, the company has doubled its workforce to 80 and taken on a new remediation director for the North-East, Phill Collings.

Director Paul Taylor said: "It's been another phenomenal year for us, in which we have further strengthened our niche service designed to give construction clients confidence to build on brownfield sites previously considered too problematic or viable for development."

Sirius, which specialises in land remediation and consultancy work, has clinched a number of lucrative deals in the past year, including an £800,000, 30-week contract with George Wimpey to reclaim former colliery sidings at Murton, County Durham.

Another £1.2m contract for Taylor Woodrow Developments at Hebburn, South Tyneside, involved excavating significant historical foundations and extensive decontamination.

Remediation director Phill Collings said: "Maintaining Sirius' position in the vanguard of development and innovation is vitally important. Ensuring our projects are completed on time and to budget has already helped us secure a healthy forward order book for the Durham operation."