PASSPORTS for the post-Brexit era could be made in the North-East, The Northern Echo can reveal.

De La Rue has refused to rule out fresh Government work on new travel permits.

The Gateshead-based company has already made millions of UK passports and says its expertise leaves it perfectly placed to produce any new identification.

Campaigners have called for the existing burgundy books to be scrapped in favour of a return to a dark blue passport, to reflect the country’s impending status outside the EU.

Last night, Martin Sutherland, De La Rue’s chief executive, said the business would be willing to support Downing Street on any Brexitinduced changes, having already supported the Passport Office on a new-look passport, which includes enhanced security features.

He told The Northern Echo: “We would be delighted to work closely with the Passport Office for requirements on the British passport.

“We have a contract that runs until 2019 and we have been working with them on that for a number of years. We work on the current design, so if they came to us about alternative designs, we would be delighted to help.”

Mr Sutherland was speaking after De La Rue, which employs 620 workers at its Gateshead base and also operates as an international banknote maker, revealed its results for the six months to September 24. They show that revenue stood at £189.5m, with underlying operating profit up two per cent to £24m and the group’s 12-month order book at £409m.

Mr Sutherland said the numbers reflected a “positive performance”, citing how the business had mitigated the anticipated end of a near £30m security contract by enjoying rises in banknote print and paper volumes.

The company, which traces its roots back more than 200 years to Thomas de la Rue’s London straw hat shop, has capacity to make millions of banknotes every day in Gateshead for countries around the world.

Mr Sutherland said that work, allied to production of the new plastic £5 note for the Bank of England at a sister Essex factory and subsequent £10 and £20 work, leaves it well placed to continue its growth.

He also reiterated the business’ reliance upon Gateshead, saying staff numbers are steady after a drive to recruit around 80 people followed an upturn in financial results last year.

He said: “We think the new £5 has been well-received by the public and are planning the £10 as we speak.

“Gateshead is one of our primary bases and we are happy with where we are.”

Mr Sutherland added the company was benefiting from the continued slump in sterling, saying a prolonged drop against the dollar and euro would provide a “competitive advantage”.

He said: “While we expect little impact in the current financial year, as a major UK-based exporter with more than 80 per cent of our revenue from outside the UK, we believe we would benefit from a sustained weakness of sterling.

“We remain confident of the outlook for the rest of the year and beyond.”

De La Rue previously strengthened African ties by forming a joint venture with the Kenyan government, which bosses said would be a crucial lever in prising open growth sectors.