SALMON skin jewellery and stained glass angels from the North-East could soon be exported to Finland, after a crafts group turned to the British Embassy in Helsinki for help.

Angela Colbridge, from Eurocrafts Northumbria will be taking the work of nine craftsmen and women to the Finnish capital, on Monday, where she will meet with nine companies that have expressed an interest in their work.

The mission was organised by the Tyne and Wear branch of Trade Partners UK, who helped supply the British Embassy in Helsinki with images and information about the work of a selection of designers. The embassy in turn arranged for Eurocrafts to meet with interested businesses.

Some of the work that will be represented includes jewellery made from tanned salmon skin by Funkifish, felt bags created by Laura Brittain and stained glass angels created by Connecting with Angels.

Ms Colbridge said it was largely out of the question for such small-scale designers to consider exporting, but the costs had become affordable with Eurocrafts representing them.

She said: "The quality of work is very high and Eurocrafts is certain that the Finns will be very impressed as they have a natural appreciation of the handmade, which is not always the case in the UK."