THE company promoting the region's defence and aerospace industries is taking more than 50 members to a defence exhibition in London today.

Northern Defence Industries (NDI) , which is a not-for-profit company, is taking a quarter of its members to the world's largest defence exhibition, DSEi.

NDI managing director David Bowles said: "NDI has come a very long way since we attended DSEi for the first time back in 2001, when our organisation was just six months old.

"Back then, we took our first tentative steps into the international defence market, exhibiting on a very small stand, cheek-by-jowl with some of the biggest companies in the world.

"Since 2001, NDI has forged an enviable reputation in the world of aerospace and defence, and we have exhibited successfully at subsequent DSEi exhibitions, at the bi- annual Farnborough Air Shows and, this year - for the first time - at the Paris Air Show.

"The fact that the Northern region is so strongly represented at this year's DSEi event is confirmation of the wealth of talent and capability that exists here among these dynamic companies.

"I am confident that the time and effort expended on this major event will produce real dividends in the months and years to come."

Companies attending include Darchem Engineering, from Stockton; AEI Cables, of Chester-le-Street and Zerust UK, of Spennymoor, both County Durham.

The 200 NDI member companies have a combined annual turnover of more than £700m and form a vital economic resource for the region.