Staff at railway operator EWS are speaking face-to-face to colleagues across the other side of the world thanks to a Batley communications firm.

Direct Visual has put EWS in the picture after forming a partnership to supply all its video conferencing needs including link-ups to New Zealand and North America.

Meetings take place on a more regular basis between managers in Toton, Doncaster and London, and Direct Visual have even held a special training day to promote the high tech equipment.

Jon Fisher, EWS IT communications manager, said: "It can cost thousands of pounds for one person to travel to New Zealand - and it also takes up a huge amount of valuable time.

"Sometimes audio conferences will do, but there are occasions when you really do need to be able to see the person you're talking to.

"Videoconferencing is a perfect solution for a company like EWS which has people scattered all over the UK - and indeed the world."