OFFICIALS of a St Helens company have enjoyed a successful trade mission behind the former Iron Curtain.

Lo-energi Lighting, based on the Jackson Street indusrtial estate, was a key player in the largest trade mission to leave British shores this year. Organised by Enterprise plc and Nimtech, the delegation, led by Lord Wade of Chorlton, aimed to consolidate established trade links with Hungary.

Lo-energi Lighting is a specialist lighting company manufacturing a wide range of exterior and interior lighting with an emphasis is upon energy saving in commercial and industrial environments.

On their return from Budapest, directors Paul Fearns and Bill Parr commented: "Central Europe in general, and Hungary in particular, are prime geographical areas for us to explore and our continued involvement in developing products, for manufacture actually inside Hungary, will secure the competitiveness of our company into the new century".

PAUL Fearns and Bill Parr of Lo-energi Lighting, are pictured alongside the British Ambassador to Hungary, Mr Nigel Thorpe, and Lord Wade of Chorlton.