An international promotions company which has worked with some of the biggest names in film has picked Haywards Heath for its European office.

Kansas City-based Discovery Concepts creates toys provided with fast-food meals.

It was responsible for the Watership Down and Chicken Run figures recently offered by Pizza Hut's British restaurants, and has also produced Simpsons toys.

Now Ann Burniston, a former employee of Horsham's Old Hat design agency, has set up a Sussex base to boost the firm's business on this side of the Atlantic.

She said: "We're competing with some of the incumbent suppliers so we're trying to build that relationship.

"We've got clients in Elstree and Woking.

"Haywards Heath is the perfect place to start those journeys."

Once Ms Burniston closes a deal, designs for 3D plastic toys are created in the U.S. before being sent to Discovery Concepts' Hong Kong base. They are manufactured in China before being shipped to the West.

She said: "We design and manufacture all that we market and take great pride in delivering what we promise every time."

Originally from Minnesota, Ms Burniston said British and American businesses worked very differently.

She said: "In Britain, you can talk to a person who can make decisions.

"In the U.S., you have such big organisations.

"One person runs such a small niche that you end up only getting a small piece of business."

Ms Burniston is juggling marketing with motherhood, bringing up her four-month-old daughter Katie while closing deals.

She said: "I had to come off maternity leave early but this opportunity was fantastic."