A Scottish fire protection specialist is moving into England after winning a multi-million pound contract to supply systems for use on a production platform in the North Sea .

Blaze Manufacturing Solutions has opened an office in Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast to service the contract with Perenco.

The Aberdeenshire-based firm has been appointed by the oil and gas independent to replace all the fire-water systems on the 27 Alpha platform in the southern North Sea.

Blaze Manufacturing Solutions expects to invest a five-figure sum in the new office, where two new employees will be based.

Managing director Howard Johnson said the office would help the company manage an increasing workload in the area.

Scottish oil and gas services firms such as privately-owned Blaze Manufacturing Solutions are capitalising on a surge of investment in the North Sea.

Perenco is one of a number of independents that have increased their exposure to the area by acquiring assets that bigger fish decided were non-core.

The company entered the North Sea in 2003 through the acquisition of a portfolio of gas assets off Norfolk from BP.

It bought a portfolio of gas assets off Yorkshire from BP in 2012, for around £250m.

The oil and gas giant wanted to focus investment in big projects like the £4.5bn Clair Ridge development West of Shetland.

Perenco produces around 70,000 barrels oil equivalent gas daily in the North Sea.

It has interests in a range of other countries, including Gabon in West Africa and Vietnam in Southeast Asia.

Launched in 2006, Blaze Manufacturing Solutions employs 20 full-time staff members and 100 contractors.