MARINE equipment company Gael Force Group has secured a deal worth almost £2.5 million to supply three barges to the Scottish Salmon Company.

Gael Force said the contract will lead to the creation of more than 20 new jobs across Inverness and Forres taking staff numbers in the company to 200.

The business is also slated to build a further three barges, which transport food on salmon farms, in 2016 if Scottish Salmon Company continues to expand.

Stewart Graham, Gael Force managing director, said: "It is a huge vote of confidence in the industry and in our workforce.

"Coming on top of our existing workload, which includes significant orders for other aquaculture companies, we are now operating at full capacity and we have to increase staff numbers and extend work patterns to deal with the demand."