A company which manufactures recovery vehicles has been boosted by European orders.

Thetford-based Boniface Engineering has increased its focus on customers on the continent over the past two years after its UK and Irish markets were hit by tightening finance.

The company manufactures and sells a range of recovery trucks, with about three quarters of sales to customers in the UK and the rest exported.

While sales contracted by 23pc to about �9.2m in the year to March 31 2010, as a result of a 'lack of finance' for customers, general manager Jackie Rix said prospects had improved significantly in recent months, with new orders secured in Europe, including a �500,000 order for 14 units from a German company in recent weeks. While not confirmed, it is hoped the order could be doubled to 28 units.

The company has also employed a dedicated European sales project engineer to assist managing director Michael Boniface, and another costing engineer to focus on driving down production costs.

In addition to Europe, the company has also secured orders for two units from a customer in China worth about �300,000 in total, with additional staff expected to be hired in coming months.

Accounts for 2009/10 show the number of employees at the company fell by 15 to 45.

Ms Rix said: 'We have made great inroads into Europe, particularly over the past year or two and that has started to pay off.

'We have started to re-employ people over the past few months, and the future is looking ever more positive.

'If things continue the way they are going I hope that in 18 months we might be back to where we were two or three years ago.

'Finance is still difficult, not for everybody, but it is more difficult in certain geographical areas.

'Certainly this year the climate is still very down. It is still very difficult but we are very definitely holding our own.'

Founded in 1982, Boniface was acquired in 1996 by US-based Miller Industries, and today occupies three sites on Howlett Way, Thetford.