Cumbrian civil engineers RH Irving Construction has appointed a new managing director.

Mark Moodycliffe takes over from company founder Hylton Irving, who becomes chairman of the Longtown-based firm.

Mark, 55, has been with RH Irving since 2003, when he was recruited as commercial manager from Tarmac.

He subsequently became commercial director, and has been instrumental in the company’s growth in recent years.

He said: “I am honoured to take up this position, but I am also aware that I am stepping into big shoes. Over the last 45 years, Hylton has built a company which is robust, ambitious, and with a reputation for quality that is second-to-none in the North West.

“My aim is to carry on the good work, and I am hugely fortunate to have inherited a first-class team to take the business to the next level.”

Originally a groundworks subcontractor, RH Irving Construction has diversified into managing and delivering a wide range of commercial, industrial and retail building projects as a main contractor across the North West and beyond.

These have included construction of the Houghton Hall garden centre near Carlisle, warehouses and offices for SBS Ltd at Durranhill, and a new headquarters for Aspatria Farmers.

Most recently, the firm carried out major civil engineering works at the giant Amazon delivery station in Longtown.

Mr Irving, who started the business as a one-man operation in 1974, said: “Mark has played a key role in our success and I am confident we will continue to thrive under his leadership, whilst upholding the same culture and values we have all come to know.”