WORK has begun on a 5,000 sq ft workshop and office extension at the Union Trucks Ltd depot in Thirsk - making way for more jobs.

Bosses at the North East's distributor of Scania heavy goods vehicles say they are relying on the more than £700,000 extension to offer an even better service once it is finished in the spring.

More working space and technical equipment will be available at its base in Thirsk Industrial Park - an extension designed and being built by Severfield-Reeve Projects, a subsidiary of Severfield-Rowen Plc. The design-build firm, also based in Thirsk, has played a major role in the development of the park over the last 17 years.

Union Trucks, which has 20 staff at Thirsk Industrial Park where it has been established since 1985, will also be creating more technician jobs. The business, which maintains and services Scania vehicles, also has depots in Washington, Darlington and Newcastle.

Union Trucks covers the North East region from Harrogate to Berwick-on-Tweed and Haltwhistle and serves customers ranging from single-vehicle owner drivers to multi-national distribution companies and supermarkets.

The new workshop and office extension includes doubling the size of the service and sales external areas, on land bought from Severfield-Reeve Projects, and will include three extra workshop bays, new refurbished sales and offices, brake-testing facilities, tachograph equipment for calibration and repair and more space for the display and sale of vehicles.

Simon Dykes, managing director of Union Trucks, said: "Our premises at Thirsk have only two bays and the yard area is far too small. The success of our sales team has meant that our technical staff have recently been working in increasingly cramped conditions which would threaten efficiency of service to our customers if we did not extend the depot.

"The extension is vital for our business because North Yorkshire is a very important area for us. During the last three years one in every three heavy goods vehicles sold in North Yorkshire and Teesside has been a Scania.

"The extension will be essential, ensuring that we provide customers with facilities and services which are every bit as good as the world-class vehicles we supply. We are looking forward to working with Severfield-Reeve Projects on this exciting development and expansion of our business."

Lindsay Ross, managing director of Severfield-Reeve Projects and chairman of Thirsk Regeneration Initiative, said: "Thirsk Industrial Park is an ideal location for Union Trucks because of its proximity to the A19 and A1. The company's further commitment to this area is very welcome and a pat on the back for Thirsk."

Work has started on the extension which is due to be completed this spring.

Updated: 12:48 Tuesday, January 22, 2002