A NORTH Yorkshire transport company has taken on seven more staff and bought a £70,000 transport lorry - one of 11 new vehicles to come - in order to double its trips to Spain for regional exporters.

Nidd Transport Ltd, based near Ripon this month launched a daily schedule to Irun, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante, rather than twice a week.

It has meant employing two more drivers, an extra warehouseman and four more office workers, bringing its total workforce to 40.

And the first of 11 transporters worth between £60,000 and £70,000 which will replace part of its 18-strong rigid and articulated fleet, has arrived in time to operate the new timetable which began this month.

Tony White, who started Nidd Transport in 1984 and is its managing director, said: "Seven-day departures with two-day guaranteed deliveries is the fastest, most regular distribution service to Spain that I know of.

"In spite of the strong pound there is good activity between northern England and Spain and we hope that the greater flexibility our extended, highly-competitive service offers will give exporters a bit more of the edge they deserve.

"Because we own our own fleet and don't sub contract this service we have the control to deliver what we promise."