The Bishop of Bradford had a spring in his step yesterday during a visit to a Haworth factory.

The Rt Rev Nick Baines officially opened the purpose-built new factory of long-established local company Airedale Springs.

He blessed the building and unveiled a plaque during a ceremony watched by dozens of invited guests and the 33-strong workforce.

The £3.5 million building off Bridgehouse Lane – dubbed The Spring Works – replaces Ebor Mills, which burned down in August 2010.

Since the fire, Airedale Springs had operated from temporary premises and outsourced work to other spring-makers.

Representatives from those competitor firms were among the guests as the company, established in 1945, unveiled its state-of-the-art production facility.

Chairman Tim Parkinson thanked individuals and organisations who rallied round after Ebor Mills was destroyed.

He said such support helped the company through the “dark times” of the past 12 months when it lost both materials and people.

He said: “The business has been reborn wiser and fitter than before. I put it down to heavenly support and human application. Our faith has always been important.”

The Bishop also paid tribute to the people who had risen above selfishness and competitiveness to help Airedale Springs survive.

He said: “When you have a disaster it becomes part of the story of that community and that business. This is a celebration of that community element.”

The Bishop said the way people met such challenges showed that God was part of the “nuts and bolts and springs” of the real world.

Before the ceremony the guests toured the new factory to see traditional and modern spring-making methods.

They learned about environmentally-friendly aspects of the 18,000sq ft complex including solar panels, low-energy LED lighting, and measures to meet new European energy efficiency guidelines.

Airedale Springs was established in 1945 by Gordon Parkinson, followed by his son, Michael, who retired in 2000 after a lifetime in the business, to be succeeded by his two sons, Tim and Sean, who is commercial director.

The company currently employs 33 people and continues to manufacture springs and wire forms.

The company plans to hold open days over the next six months to showcase its new premises to current and potential customers, local residents, and others who have supported the business in recent times.

Airedale Springs is no stranger to clerical visitors. The former Bishop of Bradford, the Right Rev David James, toured the old factory in Ebor Lane in 2006.