A NORTH-EAST digger maker has supported £1.5m growth plans at a demolition and construction firm.

Komatsu UK has supplied Thompsons of Prudhoe with new machinery.

The raft of machinery will be used across a number of Thompsons’ sites, and will feature a bulldozer, which is part of a range of Komatsu UK products using high-tech tools to offer greater control on projects.

The demolition firm is known across the region for its work, with one of its more famous contracts to pull down Gateshead’s Trinity Square car park, which appeared in the 1971 film Get Carter, starring Sir Michael Caine.

Its partnership with Komatsu UK, based in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, comes after it was previously enlisted to extend the excavator maker’s demonstration area to launch a new digger in Europe.

John Burdon, Thompsons’ joint managing director, said the company, which operates its head office in Prudhoe, Northumberland, and employs about 250 staff, was keen to support the local supply chain.

He said: “To continue providing high levels of service, while getting the most value out of our fleet, we knew we could rely on Komatsu.

“We also prefer to work with companies who support the local economy in the way Komatsu UK has for many years and continues to do so.”

Peter Howe, Komatsu UK’s managing director, added: “We have developed a strong working relationship with Thompsons over a number of years.

“I’m delighted they are doing so well and very happy to continue to support them.”

Thompsons’ work on Komatsu UK’s customer demonstration area came as it unveiled the PC210LCi-10 digger for the European market earlier this year.

The firm said the machinery could revolutionise the construction industry by cutting production time through more precise digging, delivered by use of satellite navigation to identify its position on the ground and its bucket movements.

Employing about 400 North-East workers, Komatsu UK started operations in Birtley in 1985, with its plant officially opened by the Prince of Wales in July 1987.

It has now made about 60,000 machines in the region.