A company is lighting the way for North-East exporters after winning a number of foreign orders to supply books of matches.

The Perfect Match Company, in Sunderland, supplies matches for bars, hotels and restaurants in the UK and Europe.

The company, which also produces matches for movies and blue-chip companies, is celebrating its first overseas orders from Germany, India, France and Portugal.

It is also in negotiations with businesses from the Czech Republic.

The company has been helped by UK Trade and Investment, the government's trade development operation.

The Sunderland business, set up in February, was formed following an approach from an Indian match producer.

Joint chief executive Teresa Simpson said: "We are now looking at actively promoting our services to more overseas clients.

"We anticipate this will just be the start and we are also working towards attending trade missions in Holland and Belgium."

The company expects to achieve a turnover of £500,000 in its first year.

John Doolan, UK Trade and Investment's international trade advisor at Business Link Tyne and Wear, said: "The Perfect Match Company has already invested a lot of time and money into developing its products. By reaching out to new overseas markets, they can access many more potential customers and their success has once again proved the region's companies can compete on the international stage."

There are 2,200 North-East companies involved in exports, with an estimated 200,000 jobs dependent on international trade.

In recent weeks, UK Trade and Investment has helped companies in the region set up trade links with companies in West Africa and Brazil.