A COUNTY Durham firm is making a splash overseas.

Aquajoy Bathlifts Ltd, based in Consett, which specialises in the design and distribution of bathlifts, has signed up two distributors abroad with the help of UK Trade and Investment's Passport to Export programme.

The company, which was launched in 2002, signed up to the scheme in April last year in a bid to develop markets in Spain, Portugal and Ireland.

Through the programme, the company accessed funding and support to develop new marketing materials, including DVDs brochures and leaflets, and attended a trade exhibition in Madrid.

Now the company, which has developed an innovative bathlift to conform to strict European standards, has appointed two new distributors - one in Madrid and the other in Ireland.

It expects to see sales increase by 20 per cent by the end of the year and take on three new staff.

Managing director Hugh Malone said: "During the exhibition, we were visited by a UK trade advisor who gave us information on the top Spanish companies we should deal with."

Ron Seymour, one of UK Trade and Investment's international trade advisors at Business Link County Durham, said: "Aquajoy is a dynamic young company with a new and innovative product, and we are delighted to be able to support the company.

To find out more about the Passport to Export programme, call the International Trade Hotline, on 0845 0505054.