TEA company Ringtons is going "nutty" to expand its product range with the help of a North-East food firm.

Ringtons is launching a chocolate brazil biscuit and has signed up Northumbrian Fine Foods, of Team Valley, to produce it.

The initial £45,000 order is for 80,000 packs of Brazil Biscuits - 640,000 in total.

Jon Malton, Ringtons retail sales director, said: "We are always looking for new products and ideas for our customers to try, and to be responsive to their suggestions and feedback.

"We offer Ringtons Chocolate Brazils as part of our Christmas range and they have always been a sell-out. This has led us to offer the product all year round."

Ringtons recently announced the launch of a new range of fruit, herbal, green and organic teas, and two commemorative ceramics to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Ringtons, started in 1907, now makes door-to-door deliveries to more than 300,000 homes across the UK.