A TIMBER frame housebuilding company has seen orders pass the £1m mark and expects turnover to almost quadruple.

Karlin Timber Frame, in Stanley, County Durham, has also doubled its workforce and is looking for bigger premises. Since starting business 11 months ago, Karlin has seen orders for its factory-made housing kits increase month-on-month.

Managing director Colin Lunn said turnover this year would be about £400,000 and he expects it to reach £1.5m next year.

He said the firm had outgrown its 10,000sq ft premises at the Greencroft Industrial Park.

"We knew when we set the business up we would probably have to move somewhere bigger after 18 month or two years. We didn't expect to grow this quickly," he said.

"We are looking to move into a unit between 20,000 and 30,000sq ft in size and we want to stay in Derwentside if possible."