DEVELOPERS often face wildlife such as newts or bats when they take on a project.

But a Bacup company had to contend with a pod of killer whales as it completed a massive construction project overseas.

Award winning ground improvement specialists, Pennine, recently completed a £3.7m extension to Canada's largest port in British Columbia.

The 16 engineers set off in January this year after securing a contract to install 5,800 earthquake proof underwater columns.

Coupled with the threat of dangerous weather, workers faced the daily risk of a collision with pod of killer whales.

Jon Chevin, Pennine's overseas contracts manager, said: “The risk of disturbing the whales was a constant one.

“We had to seriously monitor our noise and vibration levels especially if the whales came closer the seven kilometres.

”The job was completed safely and professionally.”

The company specialise in studying unstable ground with a view to providing a more economic and sustainable alternative.

The Bacup firm, who now employ over 150 people, have come a long way since their humble beginnings as a small manufacturing team in 1989.

Pennine are now recognised as major pioneers in large underwater drilling projects and have worked on major ports in America and Saudi Arabia before their recent work in Canada.

Mr Chevin added: “We are now a serious international competitor in our field and as since being bought by Balfour Beatty, we will continue to grow.

“We have clients and contacts all over the world now, it’s a very exciting time for all of us at Pennine.”

Pennine now average a £17.5million turnover and now operate from offices in Bacup, Milton Keynes, Gloucester, Stirling and Belfast.