AN aircraft recycling business has starred in a unique TV show.

Sycamore Aviation, based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, supplied an Airbus A320 for Kevin McCloud's Supersize Salvage programme.

The Channel Four show aired last night (Thursday, April 24) and challenged three designers to create new items, such as rocking chairs and jewellery, from every part of the retired aircraft.

The plane, once valued at about £2m, was cut down by Sycamore before being moved to London for filming.

Sycamore, which recovers high value spares for clients across the world, is run by founder and boss Kevin O'Hare, who regularly flew from the airport during his days as a captain for Jet2, Flyglobespan and Thomas Cook.

Mr O'Hare helped programme makers after agreeing fifteen per cent of the show's proceeds would go to the Neuroblastoma Children’s Cancer Alliance charity (NCCA).

His five-year-old daughter Katie was previously diagnosed with cancer, and the charity has supported her fight against the illness.

He said: “She is still going strong with a very good prognosis after two major operations and a course of chemotherapy.

“It was the deciding factor that convinced me to do this.

“I was always hopeful they would make interesting items and maybe get retailers involved, but the thought of raising money and profile for this small charity clinched it for me.”

Fellow North-East company Ebac also appeared on the nation's screens last night.

The dehumidifier and water cooler maker featured on BBC Two show Digby Jones: The New Troubleshooter.

The company, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was visited by former CBI director-general Lord Digby Jones, who supported its plans to start making Norfrost freezers.

Ebac bought the Norfrost brand and machinery last year.