A FAMILY plant hire business is defying the recession and expanding into new markets.

Elvington Plant Hire, which has provided machinery to the construction industry since the 1960s, is building a new tool hire and sales division as it adapts to changes in the market.

Tim Garland, who took over the running of the business from father Ken Garland about two years ago, said the division would target the DIY market, as tighter budgets push householders to do more of their own work.

He said: “It’s part of an expansion plan to keep us heading in the right direction.”

He said the company was bucking the trend and had remained busy over the last couple of years when other businesses were being hit by the recession.

“We’re going out and finding work and then it’s all about customer service. We have expanded our offer to existing customers and where others have been quiet, we have been really busy.”

The business, based on Elvington Industrial Estate, intends to recruit a couple more staff in the New Year, he said.