A NEWPORT engineering firm, which is currently repairing Egypt's oldest pyramid, was awarded a contract to preserve one of Canada's government buildings.

Cintec International, based at Goldtops, was enlisted by The Limen Group in Toronto to strengthen the facade of the Confederation Building, which overlooks St John's in Newfoundland.

Completed in 1960 at a cost of $9, million the building houses 1,200 staff for all departments, boards and commissions of the Provincial Government of Newfoundland.

Work on the three-year project, worth more than £300,000, will start when the weather improves but engineers are already carrying out tests to make sure the company's anchoring system is compatible with the building.

The patented system has been used to reinforce structures including historic buildings and monuments for the past 25 years and works by inserting a metal bar inside a fabric sleeve, which is then filled with a cement-like fluid grout.

The sleeve then expands and moulds itself to the shapes and spaces with the walls reinforcing it from within. Robert Lloyd-Rees, chief operating officer of Cintec's Canadian division said he was thrilled to have won the prestigious contract, which will help preserve one of the country's best known regional seats of government.

Cintec is currently helping to save the pyramid of Djoser - otherwise known as the Step Pyramid - which was built in the 27th century BC.

The company is working to repair the central chamber of the historic structure, which was under threat of collapse after it was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1992.

The firm has previously helped to preserve a number of important structure including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, The White House complex in Washington DC and the Mangi Bridge in Delhi ahead of the October Commonwealth Games.