A STAFFORDSHIRE firm is proving that inward investment is still alive and well in the North-East.

RGK Wheelchairs, which makes wheelchairs for sporting use, has been based near Cannock for the past 11 years, but is now setting up a satellite operation in County Durham.

The firm has been buoyed by a steady increase in business, much of it from the region, and with the help of County Durham Development Corporation (CDDC) is leasing a 500 sqft unit at Fishburn Industrial Estate.

The company was set up by Russel Simms and Greg Eden, both wheelchair users, who met while playing for a basket ball team in Birmingham.

The two realised there wasn't a lot of equipment available for wheelchair users and decided to do something about it.

"Our wheelchairs are about active living and users want the same kind of thing whether they are using them for sport of for daily use," said Russel

Having undergone steady growth with orders from all over the country, the duo felt it was time to set up another centre in Britain.

The Fishburn base will be an assembly operation, office and showroom to service the North of England.

Initially employing manager Patrick Dolan, over the next three years RGK is looking to expand the workforceby another two or three full-time appointments.

At teh recent official opening Russel said teh decision to locate RGK's forst new centre in County Durham was driven by market forces.

"We have done a lot of business in the North-East with a strong demand in the region for sporting wheelchairs," he said

Stewart Watkins, CDDC's director of business services said: "RGK is an excellent example of how the successful niche marketing of a highly specialised product is contributing positively to the economy of County Durham.