Eight of the West Midlands leading construction companies have signed up with trade body the National Federation of Builders in a bid to bolster their businesses.

New members include Wombourne contractors Interclass and Willenhall- based Fortel Services.

Other new members are Birmingham civil engineers Keane Construction; Warwickbased house-builder K Philips; Wolverhampton general contractors Desmond P O Neil and Sal; general contractor R Williams- Hubbard & Sons and UK- wide installer of pre-cast concrete roads and bridges, Envex Contractors, both from Worcester.