FIRMS developing offshore windfarms in British waters should be encouraged by the Government to create "a level playing field" by buying their equipment from UK based firms, it was claimed last night.

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham spoke out after a visit to TAG Energy Solutions which has invested £20m in a new Tees Valley facility manufacturing wind turbine foundations. The plant at Haverton Hill, Billingham, which became operational last month (July) and could eventually employ 400, is part of a growing North-East hub ready to take advantage of opportunities from the nine new sites in British waters planned under Round 3 of the UK's offshore wind farm development programme.

Other firms include Hartlepool based JDR Cables, a world leader in producing turbine cables, the Tekmar Group, based in Newton Aycliffe, producing cable protection devices, Clipper Windpower, which is developing the world's largest turbine blade at a 25m plant near Newcastle, and Europe's leading wind turbine testing factory at the New and Renewable Energy Centre, in Northumberland.

Mr Cunningham said: "I visited TAG Energy Solutions last week and they told me they have invested 20m in their company.

"But they are frustrated at what they see as the disadvantage they have in comparison with Germany and other European countries, which buy at home.

"I want the Government to encourage British companies to buy British components and buy from organisations like TAG that are investing vast sums of money to build for the offshore wind industry.

"I want them to intervene in the way the German and other governments do to ensure their companies buy at home. I just want a level playing field."

The Labour MP said he had since spoken to Chancellor George Osborne on the issue.

Last night TAG would not be drawn into a debate about whether there should be Government intervention.

TAG Energy Solutions chief executive Alex Dawson said it was a global industry and the firm was looking beyond the UK to secure contracts.

However he added: "Obviously it would be of benefit to this region and the wider UK plc if British firms played a major role in the development of UK offshore wind farms as was the case with North Sea oil & gas developments."

Mr Dawson said the firm was already bidding for a significant amount of work and now the facility was up and running he expected to land its first orders very soon.

"The future is very bright for TAG Energy Solutions and the well established supply chain in the North-East who are ready to take on the renewables challenge," he added.