AN engineering company has secured a £95,000 Government grant to help it to expand.

Tharsus Engineering enjoyed 30 per cent growth this year, but hopes to expand more in 2006.

The grant, from regional development agency One NorthEast, has enabled bosses at the South Tyneside-based company to take on 12 people, increasing its workforce to more than 50.

Tharsus, based in Hebburn, is an engineering and heat metal manufacturing company which works with companies in the electronics, transport and telecommunications industries.

The selective finance for investment grant from ONE has helped Tharsus invest in new laser equipment which it uses to cut thick sheets of metal.