AN award-winning brick company has been highly praised for its work in the multi-million pound regeneration of York racecourse.

York Handmade Brick Company of Alne, near Easingwold, supplied more than 80,000 high quality bespoke bricks for the project.

The bricks have formed an integral part of Phase One of the redevelopment of the northern end of the racecourse, designed to improve facilities for racegoers, horses and jockeys.

The redevelopment involves moving the pre-parade ring, rebuilding a perimeter wall and creating new saddling boxes, veterinary area and a new wash-down area for horses.

The work was completed in time for the Dante Festival.

York Handmade is also involved in phase two which is due to be completed by May next year.

It involves a new weighing room building, with the existing facilities being converted into space for racegoers, possibly including a new restaurant.

William Derby, the chief executive of York Racecourse, said: “York Handmade have done a magnificent job and we are extremely grateful to them.

“Their bricks form a crucial part of the new-look northern end of the racecourse.

“We chose the company because of their excellent reputation as a heritage brick manufacturer as we had to rebuild an historic wall, designed by the York architect Walter Brierley in 1910, and needed a quality wall in its place.

“York Handmade have delivered exactly that.”

Guy Armitage, a director of York Handmade, said: “It was a challenge to replace a wall designed by such a renowned York architect as Walter Brierley, but we feel we have done ourselves justice.

“As a local Yorkshire company, it was an honour to be asked to help with such a prestigious redevelopment at York Racecourse.

“Whilst we have recently completed important national contracts at the Shard in London and Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, we also take great satisfaction in undertaking projects in our home county of Yorkshire.”