DURHAM MP Gerry Steinberg has handed over a quality standard certificate to a bakery supply firm.

Mr Steinberg, who plans to stand down at the next election after 17 years as the city's Labour MP, visited Bako Northern's plant, in Langley Moor, to congratulate the company on its achievements.

A company spokeswoman said: "Under the stewardship of our quality manager Sean Kelly and managing director Harry Cowan, the company has worked very hard over the past twelve months in order to implement the new quality systems and also improve our existing systems to enable us to provide the best possible service within our industry.

"With over 3,000 product lines and more than 200 suppliers this has proved to be no easy task.''

The company, which employs 75 people in Durham, last year announced expansion plans, which included purchase of a Scottish factory, in a bid to increase turnover by £8m to a total of £30m.