SAINTS sponsor Flybe has launched new routes from Southampton to Dusseldorf and Hannover.

Twice-daily flights to Dusseldorf and a daily service to Hannover, both in Germany, will run throughout the winter season.

Dusseldorf, on the river Rhine, is a key centre for business and is home to many telecoms companies, trading centres and advertising HQs.

Hannover, at the heart of Lower Saxony, boasts "beautiful gardens, fantastic shopping and a wealth of cultural and educational experiences".

Flybe chief commercial officer, Mike Rutter, said: "We see huge potential for growth in the area, and this is just the first of many new route announcements in this exciting new marketplace.

"Over the past year we have aggressively increased our services and passenger numbers from our regional bases across the UK. We will continue in our goal to bring more destinations directly to people's doorsteps, pushing the growth of regional air travel."

Services to Dusseldorf and Hannover will start on October 29.