NHS Blood and Transport vehicles across the UK will have their liveries produced in Cumbria until the end of the decade, thanks to a newly renewed contract.

Penrith-based Ast Transport Branding - which is on the Eden Business Park - will supply this to the health service until 2019, in a deal which also has an option to be extended for a further year.

The total value of the contract has not been revealed but a spokesman described it as "lucrative". After a tender process Asst Transport Branding was found to be the most "economically advantageous" of the bidders.

This deal was previously awarded to the firm for five years back in 2012.

Adam Wellings, commercial director, said: “We’re all absolutely delighted to be re-awarded the NHS contract, I feel it is a real testament to the excellent job we provide at Ast, with national firms relying on our services.”

Ast Transport Branding is one of the UK’s leading transport branding companies and wae set up in 2003, has amassed a range of longstanding national household name clients, including Eddie Stobart, Greggs, HSS Hire, Müller Wiseman and Speedy.

It is part of Ast Signs, which has also taken on several new members of staff.

It has appointed Jamie Lawless and Robyn Bamber to its graphic design team and has also boosted its sales division through an internal promotion and a new appointment.

Former national sales manager Natasha Brown to has become sales director and Richard Wainwright has become the firm's national sales manager role.