Situated in Whessoe Road, Darlington, the latest store, which has a door and floor showroom, large timber storage yard and parking area, will supply both trade and retail customers.

“The new Darlington sales centre is part of a programme of investment and growth across the whole company,” said NYT managing director Peter Kershaw.

“We are aiming for a turnover of £12.7m this year which we aim to increase year on year, and we’re on track to achieve our growth targets,” he added.

NYT is one of the largest independent timber importers and mechants in the north east. It now has sales centres in Darlington, Sunderland, Northallerton, Ripon, Richmond and Middlesbrough, and a distribution centre near Catterick.

The new sales centre was officially opened by the mayor of Darlington Eleanor Lister who said it was great to see new investment in the town.