A TESTING facility in County Durham has played a vital part in a multi-million pound project that will bring Norwegian gas to British shores.

Advantica Technologies' Bishop Auckland test facility has tested pipeline components which will be used in pipes bringing gas from Norwegian North Sea gas fields to the UK.

The four ultrasonic flow meters will monitor the flow of gas in a 33km pipeline running from the Heindal gas field to the British Frigg field.

Jim Holt, of Advantica, said: "At full capacity, the Vesterled pipeline will be pumping up to 11 billion cubic metres per year of natural gas and these meters give the definitive measurement of exactly how much gas is going through. It's obviously vital that their readings are as accurate as possible as even a small error has enormous financial implications."

He said it had been a successful operation and typical of the increasing amount of work they were doing for a variety of customers.