Caterpillar, in Peterlee, is boosting the skills of its workforce by taking on 10 new apprentices.

The employment drive saw more than 150 people apply for the 10 welding and fabrication apprenticeship places.

Now the 10 new recruits, who are all aged 17 to 19 and from the east Durham and Sunderland areas, have joined the 800-strong workforce.

Fred Felton, the apprentice manager at Caterpillar Peterlee, said: "Although the make-up of apprenticeships has changed over the years, Caterpillar sees the value of this type of high quality training programme in keeping traditional skills, such as fabrication and welding, alive.

"We now employ 24 apprentices altogether."

Chris Blin, the learning manager at Caterpillar Peterlee, added: "Like many organisations, Caterpillar has felt the effects of the economic downturn.

"However, we see this as an ideal opportunity to plan ahead and make sure that we have the right skills in place for when the economy recovers and things pick up again."