A PUBLIC body set up to help North West businesses has been criticised by the Prime Minister for running five offices in the United States and Canada.

The North West Development Agency (NWDA) said the bases brought in millions of pounds in US investment to local businesses.

But the future of the network, which costs the NWDA £740,000 a year to maintain, looks bleak after it was attacked by David Cameron during Prime Minister’s Questions today.

Asked about the England’s nine Regional Development Agencies, the Prime Minister said: “The figures for how much money has been wasted should be more widely shared.”

He added: “The North West Regional Development Agency shared an office in Newport Beach.”

The Californian city is one of the most affluent in America.

The other offices run by North of England - a collaboration between the NWDA and its North East counterpart - are in Atlanta, Chicago, Boston and Toronto.

They employ a total of 13 staff.

North of England advisers provide a confidential service to US businesses looking to expand and invest in the region.

NWDA chief executive Steven Broomhead said the offices generated nearly £30 for every £1 of taxpayers’ money spent on them, improving the 'international competitiveness of the region'.

He said: “That’s an incredible return."

But Hyndburn Labour MP Graham Jones was not impressed.

He said: "It is very concerning that we have these offices abroad which must be costing a fortune to operate and staff.

"The worst part is that the NWDA are not accountable enough and this shows that no-one has an idea what they are up to and what the tax-payers' cash is being spent on.

"I think most people will be shocked at money being spent in this way and something must be done."

Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans added: “I was completely unaware that they had offices around the world.”