AN engineering consultancy firm which was launched in York 70 years ago has become part or a larger Yorkshire group.

Dossor Group, based in Melrosegate, has been acquired by Mason Clark Associates, and is now trading under the Hull and Leeds based group as Dossor MCA.

The move has seen Dossor Group's managing director Jim Taylor retained as a consultant in the new entity with Gez Pegram brought in as technical director.

The takeover builds on an existing relationship between the two companies, and follows Mr Taylor taking on more work as an 'expert witness' in legal disputes.

To celebrate the launch of Dossor MCA, which employs ten people in York, an Open House event was held at Bonding Warehouse in Skeldergate, the new multimillion office and apartment development for which Dossor Group acted as engineer.

Mr Pegram said: "The merger was an obvious succession planning route for Jim, as he has been looking for a way to hand the business on.

"Now we have got the benefit of working with our colleagues in both Hull and Leeds, as well as benefits of having access to some of the latest software, particularly in 3D modelling and flood modelling.

"Rather than working on our own we will have every opportunity to share projects so we can look at larger schemes, but we still as a York office want to focus on local clients.

"It's an opportunity for Dossor MCA to really flourish going forward, and give added impetus to its relationship with MCA. It's put fresh life into a business that is already very well established."

Dossor Group was launched in York in 1944 by John Dossor, a former deputy city surveyor for the council, who during the war had served in the Ministry of Supply.

In some city centre areas of York the business had worked on one in three buildings, and has completed civil and structural work for a number of business and organisations including, Nestle, Rowntrees, Terrys and British Sugar as well as schools and hotels and York's Millennium Bridge.

Mr Taylor said: "The success of the Dossor Group over the last 70 years has been down to skilled engineers as well as the company's versatility and the depth of our experience as well as very loyal clients.

"The merger is a regional consolidation as we now work with offices in Hull and Leeds, which gives us more strength. It is also part of my succession planning as I wanted to ensure the business would retain a focus in York."