HUNDREDS of former council staff in North Yorkshire now have a new employer after the contract to maintain the county's highways was awarded to a private company.

Raynesway Construction Southern have now formally started work after a contract signing was carried out at County Hall in Northallerton.

The county's 350-strong contracting workforce has now been officially transferred to RCS.

County councillors decided last December that RCS should have the contract, despite a campaign by the union Unison to prevent the move.

Speaking to group of transferred workers, the authority's director of environmental services Mike Moore said: "We're handing over a very successful team in the expectation that the quality of the work delivered for the people of North Yorkshire will rise.

"It's a major step for the county council but RCS is an excellent company with a strong reputation and I'm convinced that this move gives the workforce an opportunity to develop in a much rounder working environment."

RCS managing director John Jackson said: "It's an exciting challenge for all those involved and we want to make it a partnership that demonstrates the benefits that accrue when the private sector works with a local authority. We've already found the calibre of staff in North Yorkshire to be very high."

County council chief executive Jeremy Walker added: "The staff of county contracting have made a tremendous contribution helping the people of North Yorkshire deal with everyday life, year in and year out, from clearing snow and ice in the winter months and the recent floods, to grass cutting in the summer. RCS are going to benefit from taking on a successful workforce, but North Yorkshire will benefit too.