NEWPORT & Gwent Enterprise is 20 this year and in recognition of its sterling achievements, Newport East MP Alan Howarth yesterday visited one of its most enterprising customers.

Mike Catling founded his Coldra Engineering Company in 1979. It may sound rather grand but consists, in fact, of Mike and his wife and premises located in their back garden.

Nevertheless Mike's achievements over the last 20 years would be worthy of gracing the brochure of any blue-chip company.

He has just finished the design and manufacture of an aluminium component for Jaguar Cars to help strengthen the roof of a new model.

He has also designed a machine to enable Proctor Bros in Caerphilly to boost production of its 'Little Nipper' mouse traps, and a process by which holograms can be attached to the surface of CDs to prevent unauthorised duplication or 'pirating'.

Microsoft is now using Mike's process to produce hundreds of millions of software CDs for sale worldwide.

Mike has been assisted by Newport & Gwent Enterprise adviser David Bevan to procure grant assistance and intellectual copyright advice for his latest invention - a golf cart which follows its owner around the course.

Alan Howarth was impressed with what he saw. " Newport & Gwent Enterprise will be doing him and mnay like him a fantastic service if they can steer him around all the government aid agencies and help him bring more products to market."

"I would urge anyone who feels they could emulate Mike's example to get in touch with Newport & Gwent Enterprise."

* Pictured, Mike Catling (centre) with Dave Bevan of Newport & Gwent Enterprise (left) and MP Alan Howarth