BELGIUM is famous for its melt-in-the mouth chocolate and Switzerland for its mountain-shaped Toblerone bars - now the North-East could become renowned for Rolos.

Chocolate maker Nestl has come up with an idea to promote the North-East origins of some of its products.

It is developing a selection box bearing a picture of the Millennium Bridge, called "Made in the North East", to sell to the region's tourists.

And the decision has provided a welcome boost to another North-East company.

Plastic Mouldings Northern, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is about to double in size and hopes to double its turnover for the third year in succession following a packaging contract with Nestl for an undisclosed sum

In the box are Caramac bars, Fruit Pastilles, Fruit Gums and Rolos - all of which are made at Nestl's Fawdon factory, in Newcastle.

Millions of tourists flocking to see the Tall Ships on Tyneside this summer will be able to sample the North-East's chocolate.

Nestl plans to have stands at the event, which is expected to attract about 2.5 million people to the city.

And it is hoped the chocolate selection box will be sold at tourist destinations around the North-East to promote the region's manufacturing base.

Neil Kipling, of Nestl, who is developing the idea, said: "So many people don't know that Rolos come from Newcastle, and we are trying to get that message out."

Nestl is only buying the packaging from local suppliers, including PMN.

Freddy Bourdais who, along with colleague Mark Rigg, was made redundant from a plastics company after 12 years, decided to set up on their own in 2002.

To finance the venture, both men remortgaged their homes and invested their savings. Mr Bourdais sold his home in France.

He said: "It was a risk, but we knew the market so we went for it.

"I have paid off my mortgage now, and managed to buy another house in France, as well as invest money each year into the business.

"We have about ten staff and will be taking on a few more as we double the size of our factory by building an extension."

PMN, which is on the South Church Industrial Estate, near Bishop Auckland, manufactures plastic formed products for cars, transportation trays, ponds and garden water features, as well as the food industry.

Its factory will expand by 3,500sq ft following a £250,000 investment.

PMN is also investing £40,000 in a machinery. Mr Bourdais is planning to set up another company in Birmingham, called Plastic Mouldings Southern.