PRIME Minister Tony Blair has commended North-East businesses for their support of Army reservists.

Thirteen companies from the region were among 170 from across the UK to be invited to a ceremony in Downing Street.

All the companies that attended had released several members of their workforce to join recent operations in Iraq and Bosnia.

PA Plastics Supplies, from Spennymoor, County Dur-ham, was singled out as one of the four best employers in the country for supplying and supporting reserve troops.

The meeting between employers and the Prime Minister was arranged by the Supporting British Reservists and Employers group.