KIRKDALE-BASED Acorn Contract Services has secured a £1.12m contract to restore garden boundaries in Liverpool.

The grounds maintenance company was able to bid for the contract thanks to a grant from Stepclever, which offers knowledge and support to companies based in the wards of Anfield, Everton, County, Kirkdale, Linacre and Derby who wish to tender for both public and private sector contracts.

Acorn, which specialises in soft landscaping, civil engineering and road surface works, also managed to secure a further grant from Stepclever, enabling it to purchase new machinery.

The garden work, being undertaken as part of the GEARS project, includes the refurbishment of fencing, walls, steps and gates for houses in Kensington.

The project is named as an acronym of the streets in Kensington where the project is taking place, centred around Garthowen Street and Edge Lane.

Managing director Julie Cunningham said: “The support from Stepclever has been fantastic.

“We have been able to safeguard jobs and have also managed to create 10 new jobs for this project, too.”