A SPECIALIST rope manufacturer has netted its first export order.

Nationwide Splicing and Rope Services has supplied the Bharati Shipyard, in India, with £8,000 worth of netting, which will be used on Indian oil rig supply ships.

The Gateshead company sought advice from export experts UK Trade & Investment to ensure its first overseas order was completed successfully.

Managing director Steve Waters said: "The advice and support I got from UK Trade & Investment was absolutely invaluable and actually made the difference in helping us clinching the order - it made the whole process easier."

The company specialises in providing natural and man-made fibre ropes. Products range from assault course obstacles to rope halters for animals in agricultural shows.

Mr Waters said: "We provide a very specialist product, so I'm pretty confident that if we want to get into exporting, there will definitely be a market out there for our goods."