A company is hoping to win overseas orders following a trip to Australia.

Specialist engineering service IDEC, based in Stockton, took part in a trade mission to Australia where company bosses met representatives of Worley Engineering, of Perth.

The company hopes to secure a partnership agreement with the Australian company to help provide engineering expertise for its Middle East projects in the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

IDEC provides an engineering service to a number of industries.

Through its links with Worley, IDEC has also recently appointed agents for its services in Iran and has appointed agents in Kuwait.

IDEC managing director David Howarth said: "The company was set up in 1997 to offer design services to the major local industries such as ICI and British Steel - now Corus - but with the demise of ICI and the region's steel industry, we have worked hard to find new customers in other industries, both in the UK and overseas."

The visit was supported by UK Trade and Investment through its Trade Mission programme.

Andrew Tanner is UK Trade and Investment senior international trade advisor at Business Link Tees Valley. He said: "The Trade Mission programme can help companies break into new markets by offering financial assistance to meet potential customers face-to-face in their home market, as well as providing all the help, advice and support a company may need to secure the all-important order."