New hi-tech facility secures jobs

Dozens of jobs are to be created at a pharmaceutical factory in Northumberland.

A £7m extension was being opened on Thursday at the Perbio Science plant in Cramlington.

The plant, which received £250,000 in grant aid from regional development agency One NorthEast, said it will create the jobs in the next 18 months.

The new extension will also safeguard the future of the 39 staff currently working at the plant.

It will use the facilities to manufacture its award-winning HyClone cell culture products.

The company said in a statement that the new state-of-the-art facilities represent a major investment and will allow it to enhance services to European customers.

Perbio said it chose the north-east of England to build the site following 10 years of successful operations in Cramlington.

The company praised what it said was a "loyal and experienced workforce" and said it had received help and assistance from One NorthEast and local councils.