Hexham MP Guy Opperman has visited the Kilfrost chemical manufacturing site in Haltwhistle as the business invests record amounts as part of its upgrade of machinery and technical equipment. 

Kilfrost is the global market leader in de-icing and anti-icing for the civil aviation and transportation industries. 

Proudly situated in Haltwhistle as a family-owned business, the company's first products were originally used to de-ice football pitches, including St James' Park in Newcastle.

In the late 1930s, Kilfrost turned their attention to the aviation industry, particularly aircraft de-icing, and launched a Defrosting Composite which the UK Royal Air Force trialled on the Sunderland Flying Boats of Imperial Airways before approving its use. 

Kilfrost employers over 100 local people and are previous winners of the prestigious North East Business of the Year award. 

Local MP Guy Opperman visited the base in Haltwhistle and toured the facilities, which are due a substantial upgrade in the coming months. 

Guy Opperman MP said: "I was really impressed by the record investment that is going into the business - the Kilfrost team are upgrading the technical equipment with hundreds of thousands of pounds of further investment this summer.

 "My thanks to the team at Kilfrost who do wonders for the local economy in Haltwhistle."