AN iron and steel manufacturer has secured overseas orders worth $2.5m (£1.5m) with the help of an advice organisation.

The Davy Roll Company, whose Gateshead works dates back more than 150 years, already exported to about 40 countries worldwide when it sought help from John Doolan, Trade Partners UK international business advisor at Business Link Tyne and Wear.

Now the company has secured orders over the next year worth $2.5m in Malaysia and is set to break back into the Iranian export market as well as markets in Russia.

Steve Bell, managing director at The Davy Roll Company, said: "Over the last few years, there have been a number of countries where we have been unable to sell, as we have not had any representation and were not always confident of getting payment.

"But with the help of Trade Partners UK and John Doolan, we have had market reports prepared in these areas and in Iran in particular, John found us a new contact to act as our representative.

"We are now close to securing several new orders.

"We have also targeted the Eastern block, where John has been working with us to establish new contacts in Russia - which is our next key target."