A MARBLE and granite supplier is making solid progress after announcing it is moving to new premises.

F. Jones (Cleveland) Ltd is expanding to a new unit at Riverside Park Road, in Middlesbrough, as a result of a £1.5m investment.

The majority of the funding for the project came from the firm's resources, combined with secure financial backing from Barclays Bank.

Middlesbrough-based chartered accountants Keith Robinson & Co was able to secure a regional enterprise grant of £59,000 towards the project.

F. Jones, which deals with trade customers only, manufactures high-quality marble and granite surfaces for commercial and domestic bathrooms and kitchens across the UK.

Its work portfolio includes bathroom surrounds for 10 Downing Street, and its products can also be seen at venues around the North-East including Ramside Hall, Darlington Football Club's new stadium, and Gateshead's Baltic Art Gallery.

Its 20,000 square foot premises will feature some of the finest manufacturing equipment anywhere in Europe, with much of the specialist technology imported from Italy.