By Matt Bowling:

A Staffordshire pottery firm has won back a contract to supply crockery to the NHS.

The Dudson Group, based in Tunstall, will make tableware for use in NHS cafeterias and wards.

The contract is a major achievement for Dudson, who have won back the contract they lost two years ago to competitors in the Far East.

The 18-month agreement is initially worth more than £450,000 and there is an option for it to be extended.

The 210-year-old firm, which employs more than 500 people, is one of the oldest tableware manufacturers in the world.

The company also recently announced a 12-month £400,000 deal with Virgin Atlantic to manufacture its first class dining ware.

Dudson Group Chief Executive Max Dudson told The Sentinel: “From a Stoke-on-Trent point of view it is good news to see production coming back to the city. That’s a reassuring sign for all manufacturers in the area.

“We won the contract back because of a mixture of product performance, quality and the logistical advantages of having a local service.

“It’s pleasing for us because we had the contract before and we were really disappointed to lose it to the Far East.

“We always thought we were better value, and this proves the point there is true value to come out of Stoke-on-Trent.”