SILSDEN sleeping bag company Snugpak has proved it is among the best in the world after landing a £1.8 million contract with the Latvian Army.

Following a year of negotiations and stringent testing of its clothing, Snugpak has won a six year contract to supply the army's 6,000 troops with insulated jackets and trousers - with a retail price of around £300.

In addition, the company will kit out the army's 1,500 reserve troops.

Darren Burrell, Snugpak's export sales manager, flew out to Latvia several times to discuss the army's needs and to come up with the best possible equipment available.

He said: "The Latvian Army is currently restructuring and is now in the process of upgrading and replacing all its equipment. The first items to be replaced are uniforms and protective clothing.

"It has around 6,000 full-time soldiers and the brief was to find the best possible product in each area."

Mr Burrell said it was great news for Snugpak, which a year ago was the subject of a management buyout.

"It's great for us and has given us the confidence to carry on manufacturing. We weathered the storm of about four years ago when everyone was being bought out," he added.

The company, which makes sleeping bags and clothing for the general market as well as clothing, rucksacks and sleeping bags for the military market, was first approached by the Latvian Army at an international show in Germany.

"We didn't think much about it at the time," said Mr Burrell.

Since then, the army's buying power has increased, allowing it to buy specialist equipment for its soldiers.

Mr Burrell said the army wanted warm jackets and salopettes (padded trousers) for winter training both at home and in Scandinavia.

The clothes, in coyote or Latvian brown, are special because of their weight, warmth and the ability to fold up very small.

"Others can make them, but making sure they stay the same after washing is something they can't do," added Mr Burrell.

The clothing also comes with compression straps which mean it can be folded up to be carried around.

Before the contract was signed, Mr Burrell visited the country's capital, Riga, to talk about specifications and delivery.

On one visit, the city was preparing itself for a Nato meeting and had been cleaned up for the arrival of the country's leaders.

Mr Burrell discovered that the average Latvian soldier differed slightly from the average British soldier.

"They're about 5ft 11ins, slightly taller than a British soldier, and with longer arms and a slightly leaner torso," he said.

Before the contract was signed, the army tried out the clothes.

"We made up 40 sets of clothes which were tested by the army over the winter of 2005/2006 and a further 300 sets were put through their paces by the special forces last winter to ensure that our equipment was the best in the world," said Mr Burrell.

Finally, the army was happy and the contract for the next six years was signed.

"The deal was signed with an Army Major in Latvia at a formal meeting which included a tour of their military facilities," he said.

The Howden Road-based company, which employs around 50 people, has also supplied British soldiers - both on a contract with the army and as individuals wishing to upgrade their equipment. It is also currently kitting out the Australian army's 2,500 soldiers being sent annually to Iraq.

The company has just completed its first year of trading following its management buyout.

It is now run by former managing director Mick Dobson and former company secretary Susan Parish.