A £1.4million investment by a north engineering company is set to create new jobs and develop new markets in the north of Scotland and beyond.

Muir of Ord based Ross-Shire Engineering is investing in new office and workshop facilities at their Easter Ross base where they already employ around 120 people.

The development which has attracted funding of £300,000 from HIE Inverness and East Highland will allow its office based staff to consolidate their work under one roof and a new workshop will increase the company's manufacturing capacity in carbon and stainless steel fabrication work.

When complete, around 60 new jobs will be created as the company expands into the electronic, telecom, satellite and communication fields as well as continuing its successful contracts with major utility companies.

By increasing the size of the company, directors at Ross-Shire Engineering say the expansion will allow it to service larger, more complex contracts.

Director of Ross-Shire Engineering David MacLennan said: "The new facilities will be a vast improvement on our previous offices and workshops which were badly outdated. They will help increase efficiency, promote a more professional image, give clients more confidence in the services we provide and make us much more competitive.

"The work being undertaken will also complement our drive to push up overall quality and to this end we are undertaking ISO9002 which is improving management systems such as human resources, strategic planning and finance."

Another 48 full time equivalent jobs will be created indirectly as a result of the development which includes work on the construction of the offices and workshops.

Chief executive of HIE Inverness and East Highland Stuart Black said: "Ross-shire Engineering is a major employer and our assistance is helping to create high quality, well paid jobs as well as strengthening the business infrastructure of the area.

"It will enable the company to attract additional business from further afield which in turn will contribute towards making the area more attractive as a business location."