A SOUTHAMPTON company making Eden Project-style geodesic domes for home use is to refocus on home markets to continue steady sales growth.

With designs similar to the domes housing exotic plants at Cornwall's tourism success the Eden Project, the domes can be used to house a greenhouse, a pool or a spa, or even as a house extension.

Costing between £4,000 and £18,000 each, the domes are described as offering summer all year round.

The seven-strong company, called SolarDome Industries, has seen its domes built in venues as diverse as a Manhattan rooftop and a school playground in the Cotswolds.

Formed in 1995 by a buy out of Rosedale Engineering by Bruce Cowan, SolarDome Industries now sells mostly via the Internet and trade fairs.

When the Eden Project opened to rave reviews in 2000 the SolarDomes really took off and are proving popular abroad.

A spokesman said: "We get a lot of interest from overseas through our website and have a French and Danish agent who promote the domes.

"By concentrating on home-ground, we hope to expand with the business. Unfortunately, the economy isn't that good at the moment, but over the last three years we've definitely shown signs of improving. We are excited about the success so far and the growth of the future."

Last year, the company made 65 domes, including an order of 30 to a French supermarket. It takes around two months to build a dome from order to completion.

The domes are produced in an on-site factory and are designed with all panes of glass at a right angle to allow the maximum amount of sunlight to pass through the glass.