PRINCESS Anne will officially open the new premises of a company which was devastated by fire.

The Princess Royal will open the new Airedale International facility in Rawdon, on the site of the building which was gutted in a blaze in September 2013.

Airedale’s entire building was demolished after the fire but is now fully operational after being rebuilt. The visit will take place on Tuesday.

The new facility boasts a BREEAM 'Very Good' rating in recognition of its environmental credentials, and includes a number of other improvements to meet health and safety, aesthetic and environmental considerations to benefit the business and local residents. The new building also features a state-of-the art research and development centre which is one of the biggest in Europe.

Formed in 1974 Airedale International Air Conditioning has manufacturing bases in three continents and customers in more than 60 countries. It employs almost 600 people around the world.

The company, which designs and manufactures high technology cooling systems for organisations around the world, moved to a temporary site near Leeds city centre after the blaze.

Production was moved back to the Rawdon site on a phased basis lasting several months and finishing in January this year.