HAMPSHIRE company Water-mark joined forces with Virgin Atlantic to operate the first aid flight to Basra to help with relief and long-term reconstruction.

The Virgin 747-400 was the first non-military aircraft to land in Iraq since 1990.

Watermark, based at Upham, and current holder of the Daily Echo's Hampshire Company of the Year title raised 32.2 tons of medical supplies and aid from donors for distribution in Iraq by the coalition forces.

Chief executive John Caulcutt flew out with Richard Branson, accompanied by a small team of medical experts.

Watermark provides marketing support services to the international travel industry, supplying more than 200 in-cabin products ranging from headphones to comfort kits and meal service equipment to duvets, for more than 150 airlines worldwide

In less than ten years the company has grown from a small Winchester operation to being a leading international support services company to the airline and travel industry and has offices in Hong Kong, Northern China, Russia, Germany and the United States.

It has grown from an OFEX (Off Exchange) quotation company, through AIM to the official Stock Exchange list in just three years.