NORTH-EAST companies have been praised for winning seven Queen's Awards for Enterprise, the region's best performance since 1998.

The performance was welcomed by leading members of the region's business community, who said the awards were the most prestigious in the country.

Each of the winners will be entitled to display the Queen's Award emblem for five years.

Well known companies in the region which emerged as winners included Durham City's Bede Scientific Instruments Ltd, which won in the International Trade section, and Teesside's Elementis Chromium, which won in the Innovation category.

David Slater, of the Competitiveness and Europe at Government Office for the North East, said: "This is a tremendous achievement by some of our most enterprising companies and must be a great boost in confidence for the region's industry as a whole. I heartily congratulate the winners.

"It is particularly pleasing that the North-East has won awards in all three categories, International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development."

John Williams, North-East international trade director for Trade Partners UK, said: "I am delighted to see the North-East so well represented amongst the winners of the Queen's Awards for International Trade. The performance of these companies exemplifies the dedication and commitment of the region's exporting fraternity throughout the difficult conditions of recent years."

Mike Collier, chief executive of One NorthEast, the regional development agency, said: "Winning awards in all three categories is a major boost for the North-East and is proof the region is diversifying into new technology, not just relying on old traditional strengths."

Bede Scientific Instruments Ltd, established in 1978, is based at Belmont Business Park, Durham, and has 38 employees. It designs and manufactures X-ray equipment used in the semiconductor industry and the life sciences.

Elementis Chromium, based at Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, has 297 employees and produces chromic acid in a new form which is less dangerous to handle than traditional forms.

The names of the winners were published in a special supplement for the London Gazette yesterday, the Queen's birthday.