A CARAVAN group with a dealership in the region has been named one of the fastest-growing companies in the country.

Barrons, whose North-East centre is in Burtree Gate, near Darlington, came in at 49th in a league table of privately-owned companies, ahead of the likes of David Beckham's image rights company Footwork Productions.

In the past four years, Barrons has seen sales grow from nearly £12.9m to £86.7m, which saw the firm named in the Hot 100 league table compiled by Lloyds TSB and Real Business magazine.

Barrons started out from modest beginnings half a century ago when Dave Barron sold caravans from a back garden in Blackpool with a stock of only ten.

The company moved to a sales ground in Wigan in 1967 and since then it has grown to having seven branches across the UK and one in New Zealand.

Barrons now sells everything for outdoors holidays, including tourers, motorhomes, holiday homes, folding campers, awnings, tents and accessories.

The company has up to 1,500 vehicles on its forecourts at any one time.

David Hold, who took over the business from his father, Gordon, in 2001, said: "Barrons has developed from modest beginnings to a thriving national and international business.

"I am very proud of what the company has achieved over the years, none of which would have been possible without the very dedicated team of people working hard throughout our eight branches to keep the Barrons name at the forefront of the leisure industry.

"There will be a number of celebratory events throughout this year, and we hope that anyone who has had anything to do with Barrons will come and join us as we celebrate 50 years in caravanning."