DARTS ace Raymond Van Barneveld has thrown his support behind a leading North-East van hire company.

Darlington firm Northgate, which has been operating in the town for thirty years, has joined forces with the five-time world champion and former world number one to help launch its Rentinator brand which is aimed at small businesses.

Northgate is offering one business the chance to experience a visit from the "Van Man" by sending Mr Van Barneveld on the road to play darts at their workplace.

Mr Van Barneveld said: "I speak to a lot of the crowd at the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) events and a lot of them are builders, electricians, couriers and other professions that rely heavily on vans.

"It will be great to make a visit to one of their workplaces and chat to them about what they do and hopefully show them a few things on the dart board as well.

"The Rentinator darts van is very cool and they have done a great job kitting it out, I might see if I can take it on the road with me as a practice facility but Im not sure theyll let me."

Northgate started life in 1981 when Alan Noble set up Noble Self Drive Ltd. It has become the UK's largest private vehicle hire business, employing about 2,000 staff.

To apply to have the "Van Man" visit your workplace go to: www.rentinator.co.uk