COMMERCIAL vehicle hire specialist Northgate has taken over fleet management company Fleet Technique (FTL).

Northgate paid £5.7 million for FTL, which was launched 14 years ago and currently manages 15,000 vehicles from its Gateshead office.

Martin Ballinger, chairman of Northgate, said: ‘Our entry into the fleet management business will enable us to offer a full range of vehicle services to fleet users on both a local and national level.’