Wembley coup for roof firm

Developers say it will be the finest covered stadium in the world

A contract worth almost £2m to build the roof of the new Wembley Stadium has been won by a Northamptonshire company.

Mineral Star, based in Earls Barton, put in its bid for the job a year ago.

Company director Carey Allen said winning the £1.8m contract meant they would be taking on more staff.

She said they were delighted that a small company like theirs could beat off some big competition.

Mineral Star was set up 15 years ago, working on garages and schools.

The company expects to recruit four or five more employees before work on the roof begins in April.

Work on the £757m new 90,000-seat stadium began in September 2002 and is expected to finish in 2006.