ONE of Gwent's oldest vehicle body repair companies is to be remembered in a new operation begun by its former staff.

Ben Gibbs Industrial Finishes was forced to close its premises near the Newport Transporter Bridge a few months ago when work began on marking out the route of the city's Southern Distributor Road.

But its staff have moved into new premises in Maindee, continuing the work they did before and retaining the Gibbs name in a totally separate company as B N Gibbs Body and Mechanical Repairs.

Two of them, Phil Fry and Bill Wardman, are heading the new company with colleagues Steve Stone, Jason Rogers, Mervyn Davies and Jackie Rosser from the old site in Mill Parade, Pillgwenlly.

The new premises in Philip Street were occupied at various times by car firms James and Emanuel, Volvo and Lex Seat. Part of it will be the new body repair shop and there is also space for MoT testing, due soon pending a change-of-use planning application.

Much of the work will come through insurance companies - the old Gibbs did work for no fewer than 25.

Phil and Bill worked for their former employers for a combined total of 43 years and two awards for excellence of work are displayed proudly in the new offices. Before setting out on the venture, they received help in starting a business from Newport and Gwent Enterprise.

"We hope to grow the business," Phil said. "All we need is a bit of luck and some work. We are trying to use all local suppliers, even for the stationery."

Bill said the old Gibbs company 18 years ago was a busy place. "We would sometimes carry on till 2am to finish a job because there was so much work," he said.

* The colourful Benjamin Balfour DeWitt Gibbs founded the original company in the 1920s, later incorporating a steeplejack service. In the Second World War, the company painted camouflage on aerodromes throughout Britain.

* Pictured: Phil Fry and Bill Wardman outside the premises of their new business