A BLACKBURN firm that has repaired and sold parts for South Korean submarines, African diamond mining companies and Arctic explorers is hoping to retain a Hive Award.

Founded in Thwaites Close in 1978, Northern Industrial has gone from a small parts supplier to export to 131 countries around the world.

The firm specialises in keeping businesses up and running with high quality industrial electronic spare parts, repairs and onsite support.

David Lenehan, managing director, said that he and his staff were hoping to retain their International Achievement Award at this year's Hive Business Awards.

He said: "It would be fantastic for us to retain the Hive Award, we've had another great year and it would really reflect that.

"The business was set up back in 1978 by my dad, about seven years ago we set up an e-commerce company and it has just gone from there."

He added: "Out first sale came from a company down in Southampton and then they slowly started coming in.

"We now ship to 131 countries, we have sold supplies for Korean submarines, diamond minds in Africa and for companies that operate in the Arctic.

"We even had one Brazilian man who flew all the way to pick up a part."

Mr Lenehan said that he hoped to open an office on the continent in the coming years and continue to expand the company's international reach.