A DARLINGTON company has been named one of the country's top ten "Euro-businesses."

Amdega Ltd was presented with an export oscar at the Barclays Business in Europe Awards.

Two years ago it only had one person looking after exports but a major shake-up increased that number to 12, along with a four man design team and network of pan-European agents.

An annual budget of £250,000 has been dedicated to international marketing and the company's website is also generating world-wide interest.

Distributor show sites have been established in Denmark, Austria, Holland, Germany and Switzerland.

The result saw export orders in the past 12 months total £4.25m - a growth of 117pc on the previous year.

It has made Amdega, based on the town's Faverdale industrial estate, the biggest exporter of timber conservatories in the world.

Designs are tailor made to meet individual market requirements.

Extremes of heat and cold, earth-quakes and strong winds, local legislation and building controls are all taken into account.

The company, which was established in 1874, is the oldest and best known conservatory manufacturer in Britain and records show that European nobility and local gentry were placing orders with the firm as early as 1890.

Amdega believes its greatest potential lies in continuing to develop its prescence overseas, and strategies are in place to keep expanding the export markets.

Commenting on the ten finalists, Mr Chris Lendrum, chief executive of Barclays Corporate Banking, said they represented the way forward for growing British businesses.

"Their success is tangible proof that we have skills and talent in abundance and it should be seen as an inspiration to any company considering a move beyond the domestic market," he said.