THE earth is moving for a Worcestershire plant hire company which is investing in £1.2 million worth of new machinery.

Buoyant activity in the south west construction sector has led to WHC Hire Services in Bath Road, Worcester placing the order for 50 machines, including JCB excavators, Kubota micro excavators and Thwaites dumpers, from Gunn JCB, which has a depot at Hereford.

James Clutterbuck, WHC managing director, said: "The machines will both increase our fleet size and replace existing kit as part of our natural three year replacement scheme. They will delivered to our depots in Worcester and Tewkesbury throughout the next six months and fulfils our promise to customers to have the most advanced, modern fleets in the industry.

"We’ve been buying JCB equipment since we first opened more than17 years ago. It is the brand that most of our customers ask for and the machines are not only very reliable, but some of the safest and most technologically advanced. We get excellent support from our dealer, Gunn JCB, who was also able to supply site dumpers as part of the overall package. The Kubota micro excavators will be a great addition to our ever versatile fleet to fulfil demand.”

WHC Hire Services has also just been awarded the RoSPA silver medal in the Occupational Health and Safety awards 2015. This is the sixth year in a row the company has won the award for its progressive attitude towards health and safety management, both within its own business and on behalf of customers.