A PENDLE firm is helping others across East Lancashire forge links with companies in Slovakia.

Barrowford-based J D Winborne Clipper Company staged a meeting for businesses in the area with top dignitaries from one of the EU's newest member states.

Destination Slovakia was attended by Slovak Ambassador Frantisek Dlhopolcek, and the head of trade and economics department at the Slovak Embassy Dusan Horniak, who gave a talk to 30 companies about investment opportunities in the former communist state.

Owner of J D Winborne, Jonathan Eyre, 45, who is to launch a travel company offering trips to the country with business and life partner Darina Merheimova, also 45, said those who attended were surprised at what Slovakia had to offer.

The country, which has a population of six million, is base to a number of major companies including Ikea, TRW, Tesco and Hyundai.

Mr Eyre added it was attractive to investors because of tax breaks, the safety of EU law and its location in the heart of Europe.

He said: "Slovakia's not like people imagine eastern Europe -- it's very modern and is home to big companies.

In the next five years it is going to be the biggest car manufacturer in the world. They have a highly skilled workforce, but overheads are minimal."

The meeting was attended by representatives from organisations including Walker Farrimond, Turkington Engineers, TRW and East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Eyre and Miss Merheimova have been importing goods such as wooden toys and crystal from the country for the last two years.

The pair are setting up J D Winborne Travel Ltd from their Bedford Street base and hope to locate the business in Burnley soon.

Mr Eyre said the pair were currently working towards ATOL and ABTA accreditation and added flights starting on June 12 from Manchester to the capital Bratislava would open up a whole new business opportunity.

He said: "We should be up and running in about a month."