Two Bradford employers have been named among the best to work for in the country.

Bradford Council is the first local authority to be named in the survey's history, being rated among the top 20 best places to work.

And Thornbury-based call centre, Loop Customer Management company, is the fourth best employer in the North and the 46th nationwide.

Bradford Council scooped 19th place in the 'big companies' list compiled by the Sunday Times - a position based on staff feedback.

Employees were selected at random and asked how they felt about working for the organisation, their managers, training, prospects, hours and conditions and whether they had a good balance between their home and work.

Many said they were happy they were allowed to do voluntary work and pleased with the visits by Council leader, Councillor Margaret Eaton.

Coun Eaton said: "This award means a great deal, not just for the Council and its staff but for the public.

"A happy workforce reflects in the quality of service we provide for our customers."

Chief executive David Kennedy said: "This proves that Bradford is an excellent place to work and that as a public sector organisation we are on a level playing field with the country's business giants such as KPMG and Nationwide."

Loop employs about 530 people at its Mid Point Business Park premises and, despite being in business for just six years, has appeared on the Sunday Times best company list for the past four years.

The company handles a lot of business for Yorkshire Water and offers staff benefits such as staff activity days - when colleagues go clay pigeon shooting - and extended leave for new grandparents.

Marketing manager Jon Price said: "We are not a typical call centre.

"One of our mottos is 'great customer experience through great people'.

"The only way we feel we can do that is by making our staff happy."

Travel firm Thomas Cook, which has a call centre in Bradford, was also rated in the top 100.