Findley Roofing & Building has ordered 10 Vito vans which will convert its entire fleet to Mercedes-Benz models.

The company is based in Washington, Tyne and Wear, and is already running 26 Mercedes-Benz vehicles, all of which were supplied within the last year by Bell Truck and Van.

The further 10 vans are scheduled for delivery before the end of 2017. 

The latest additions to his company’s fleet are 10 3.5-tonne Sprinter 314 CDI chassis cabs with dropside bodies incorporating locking toolboxes, which were built to Findley’s specification by Tyneside Coachworks, of Gateshead.

They are now working alongside six Sprinter 314 CDI panel vans.

Findley Roofing & Building also runs 10 smaller Citan 109 CDI models – six are long panel vans while the remaining four are extra-long crew vans, each with a second row of seats allowing it to carry a driver and up to four passengers.

Still to come are 10 mid-sized Vito vans, at which point the manufacturer’s entire model range will be represented in the operator’s fleet.

Grant Findley, managing director of Findlet Roofing & Building, said: “We had been running vans by another manufacturer but they just weren’t reliable enough.

"Our Mercedes-Benz vehicles are certainly living up to my high expectations."

Findley Roofing undertakes flat and pitched roof work, ranging from small repairs to full replacements in a wide range of materials, as well as other construction projects, across the North-East and beyond.

The company was founded 30 years ago. Findley trained as a barrister before joining the family business, taking over from his father in 2008. It has since grown rapidly, reaching an annual turnover of £10 million, and now employs 90 staff.

Plans are progressing to open two depots next year, in Manchester and Essex.