HARTLEPOOL: Expamet Building Products has secured £8.35m of funding from commercial lender GE Capital for future growth plans, as it completes a management buy-out.

The firm has also won a contract to supply B&Q with roofing materials for sale in its stores.

Nigel Dickinson, managing director, together with fellow members of the management team led the move to buy out long term business partner John Cowley who decided to move on.

An overseas investor with manufacturing facilities in Singapore and Thailand has also taken a shareholding in the business.

Mr Dickinson said: "I would hope we continue to be a British manufacturer and continue with Hartlepool. It would be silly to spend a lot of money in moving that business."