A CONTROVERSIAL trade mission to Dubai has been hailed a success with at least one company chasing the prospect of lucrative contracts.

Tanfield Foods, which makes convenience meals in Consett, County Durham, is hoping to seal a deal to supply two new airlines setting up in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The company, whose managing director Keith Gill was a co-founder of the Phileas Fogg crisp company, was one of several North-East businesses in the delegation.

The five-day trip was organised by the County Durham Development Company (CDDC), the business and investment venture owned and funded by Durham County Council. Council chief executive Mark Lloyd and council leader Ken Manton were among the officials who travelled.

But the trip had been criticised by the independent county councillor for Weardale, John Shuttleworth, as a waste of money.

The party stayed at the five-star Shangri La Hotel and there was a reception on HMS Bulwark, the county's adopted warship, which visited Port Rashid during its maiden voyage to the Gulf.

Mr Gill said the visit had established positive links for local companies seeking business in one of the fastest-growing economies, and had enabled his firm to follow up initial contacts with the new airlines and make new ones in the retail sector.

He said: "I take my hat off to the CDDC for organising this trip.

"It will result in growth and hopefully jobs for our businesses."

John Graham, managing director of Gateshead-based Publish North-East, said: "When smaller companies like mine have the opportunity to work together like this, their impact in overseas markets is greater than if they attempt to foster contacts alone.

"I have made some interesting contacts during this visit to Dubai, ones which will allow me to develop business for Publish North-East in the Emirates.''

Durham and Northumbria universities also attended in the hope of attracting more students from the UAE to the North-East and running courses in the country.

Dr Sean Figgis, Northumbria's head of public relations and communications, said: "We already have established tentative contacts in Dubai, and this visit gave us the opportunity to explore these further.

"Our aim was to extend the university's activities in what looks like an exciting and growing economy."

But Councillor Shuttleworth said he stood by his comments. "It will all come to nowt," he said. "The only way I will take back what I said is if jobs actually arrive in County Durham, but I don't think they will.