DESIGN and construction firm Koru Property Services has won a contract to repair the roof at the Washington depot of Fergusons Transport after it was wrecked by snow.

The Gateshead company said it will dedicate up to 20 workers to the contract which is worth a six-figure sum.

The repairs to the roof which spans 11,500 square metres follows extensive snow damage at the depot last winter. Fergusons’ warehouse stores goods for suppliers to the Nissan car plant.

Alan Ferguson, director of Fergusons Transport, said: “An area of the roof the size of two football pitches was damaged by snowfalls last winter.

"Since then we have had temporary structures in place to allow Fergusons Transport to continue to function in its role of providing storage of Nissan car parts and their transportation to the factory.

“However, it will be great to have the original warehousing on operation again very soon.”

The repairs will be carried out in stages to allow the unit to continue to operate to its full potential.

Peter Day, Koru construction manager, said: “There are many unknowns in this contract because deconstructing and rebuilding the roof is a complicated process. It’s a great test for the team at Koru.

“Drawing on our complex range of services and expertise, we have deployed a team of experienced specialists to enable the work to be carried out in the most efficient and safety conscious manner possible.”

Fergusons Transport has freed up large areas of the warehouse to enable Koru Property Services to work on parts of the roof from the inside.

The original roof structure, which during the works is being supported by giant props, will be stripped of its damaged covering and resurfaced.

The main chunk of the job will be the replacement of the 31-metre long steel trusses, many of which were distorted under the weight of the snow.

Ferguson added: “Koru Property Services have also used these repairs as an opportunity to install some solar tubes into the roof of the building which will improve green credentials as a company.

“We are delighted that these works, which are expected to be complete before the onset of next winter, have finally been given the go-ahead.

"We have provided storage and transport to the Nissan factory in Sunderland since its arrival in the region and look forward to continuing to provide them with this invaluable service, from our newly-refurbished warehouse.”