A business selling refurbished helicopters across the globe is eyeing up new opportunities in China, India and the Philippines after setting up its European headquarters in Norfolk.

Apple International was founded by Norwich businessman Richard Harper, who established the business back in this county at Morningthorpe, near Norwich, from Tennessee, where it has its US base.

The 59-year-old, who was born and grew up in the city, ran a haulage company in the 1980s, but a love of flying helicopters saw him develop a business buying and selling Bell helicopters.

When that business took off he moved to the other side of the Atlantic, but now he has returned to the UK and is currently midway through developing the company's European headquarters, spending �500,000 so far converting former chicken sheds into an office and warehouse, with plans in the pipeline for a hangar facility.

Keen-eyed Norwich City fans may have noticed the company's name and logo at Carrow Road, where it is a sponsor of the club, with the club's Premiership season helping to give the business worldwide exposure in potential overseas markets.

'I wasn't terribly impressed with life in America,' Mr Harper said. 'Part of the problem I had 10 years ago was that labour costs in the country were so high. But I had a youngster coming up to school age and there was a new president, who I didn't think was the right choice. I was missing things in England such as Sunday roasts and the football, so I thought we would up shop.

'I've always retained a UK sales office and I was looking for a place to establish the business again. I didn't want to go to Norwich airport because of the costs, and I also wanted somewhere where I could live.'

Currently, there are 13 staff working at the business, where part sales alone accounted for �500,000 in sales last year. But staff numbers could increase to 20 in the next year and the Mr Harper has recently returned from a business trip to China, where moves are afoot to free up more civil airspace which could potentially create new markets.

'China is going to be a big market and so is India,' he said. 'We've sold some helicopters recently in the Philippines and we are employing a full-time mechanic there,' he added. 'The long-term idea is that we refurbish helicopters in the Philippines.

'That was one of the reasons going with Norwich City,' he added. 'People in the Far East all love English football and all watch it, and I've been getting calls from all over the place.'