Stevenage’s MP was so impressed by a town firm’s export efforts that he has put their name forward for government recognition.

Stephen McPartland has pressed the case for Gunnels Wood Road-based Elecro Engineering Ltd, who manufacture heating equipment and a range of other products for swimming pools, as part of the Exported by Britain campaign, which celebrates the best of British manufacturing and export.

Mr McPartland said: “I was very impressed by the products, staff, ambition and enthusiasm of the team at Elecro. They are an incredibly innovative company and already export all over the world.

“Elecro are a fantastic example of a great British company leading the world in their industry and I am proud their home is here in Stevenage.”

Elecro has been based in Stevenage for nearly 20 years and has grown from a small family-run business with exports soaring by more than 170 per cent in the last five years, now making up 84 per cent of turnover.

The company was originally formed by Roland May who, an engineer by trade, came up with the idea of building a heater in order to warm his children’s splasher pool.

Very quickly interest from neighbouring houses arose and a business idea was born. Elecro now exports to more than 60 countries across the globe.

The firm’s Clive Flood was one of the guests at the opening of a high-end swimming pool showroom in the Lebanon last month, on a guest list which included the Lebanese tourism minister and other VIPs. Clive said: “It was a great honour to be invited to attend the grand opening of the most impressive showroom I have ever seen – I look forward to visiting again soon.”