AS Bury-based builders Barnes welcomes in the new millennium, they can reflect on a record breaking 1999.

The company, which has other offices in Merseyside, the Midlands and the South East, has seen its order book swell by more than £18 million.

The long-established company, whose headquarters are in Wellington Street, has won a series of new contracts, both in the North West and further afield.

And more good news is that Barnes' forecast further substantial business in the pipeline.

Work is complete on a £2.5 million "flagship" development at Thurrock Park Way, Tilbury.

Manchester University chose the Bury business to undertake contracts to refurbish buildings across the campus, worth more than £2.7 million.

And construction is due to start on a prestigious new Vauxhall dealership at Ormskirk for Ormskirk Motors Ltd.

Other bright spots include a fast track high quality joinery installation contract at the new Marks and Spencer in Manchester and a £700,000 project to provide two new single storey buildings housing music and language teaching facilities at Cansfield High School, Ashton in Makerfield, for Wigan Council.

And a two-storey sports centre has been built within the grounds of North Manchester General Hospital.

Chairman Brian Barnes said: "We are making significant headway, particularly in winning work at the larger end of the contract scale.

"More than 25 per cent of new work won has been repeat or referred business.

"This is a source of great confidence and demonstrates our ability to consistently exceed our clients' aspirations of quality and service."

The company's core business is building contracting and it operates dedicated design and build, main contracting and small works and joinery divisions.

Barnes undertakes project work up to a value of £5 million for private and public sector clients in business and industry, healthcare, education, leisure utilities and manufacturing.

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