A PORTABLE building company says it has secured its largest ever contract in £13.5m hospital work.

Portakabin Hire, in York, says the deal is the biggest in the 52-year history of the division, which provides accommodation for wards, recovery suites and treatment centres.

The agreement will see the firm expand ward and theatre space for orthopaedic services at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Bosses said a 4,000 sq metre two-storey building, due to finished in the spring, will increase hospital capacity through 56 beds, two theatres, a recovery room and single rooms with en-suite bathrooms.

John Simpson, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust’s director of corporate services, said: “We have been very happy with the performance of the Portakabin team, and their York manufacturing centre is an impressive operation.

“This facility is being built in very short time so we can have it up and running to meet the increasing demand for services.”