A BRADFORD-BASED carpet factory had a royal visit from Princess Anne for the launch of its eco-friendly underlay made out of plastic bottles.

James Taylor, MD at family-run Texfelt, said he had “no words” to describe his joy at meeting the royal who had lots of questions about the new design.

Princess Anne and her lady in waiting, Caroline Nunley, toured round the factory and touched the eco textiles alongside Mr Taylor and his wife Rachel Taylor.

The tour was also attended by the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, Paul Lawrence and Catherine Lawrence, the Lord Mayor of Bradford councillor Doreen Lee and Michael Lee.

Mr Taylor, part of the fourth generation at Texfelt, said: “She was really interested in everything we were doing, asked lots of questions, shared the same concerns about the UK recycling industry.

“Today’s royal opening is a real milestone. This is six years of research and development.”

The Princess Royal then shook hands with special guests, including Emma Taylor MBE, MP Judith Cummins and Jo Ruxton from Plastic Oceans UK.

Scientist and activist Jo Ruxton was asked by the royal if this factory’s work gave her hope to which she replied “yes it does”.

The campaigner said: “It was about the way we’re so wasteful. I said education plays a massive part. Understand that plastic was designed to last forever and the biggest mistake we made was to make single-use items out of it.”

The MD earlier told guests the average household using the eco-engineered carpet will save an equivalent of 1,000 bottles from our environment.

Kate Taylor MBE, businesswoman and sister of the Texfelt MD, was asked by the Princess Royal if she was involved in the family business.

She said: “I spoke about my sons. I know she’s very fond of Yorkshire and she’s very hardworking.”

The royal visit marked a new era for the business which invested £9 million in its new 60,000sq. ft factory at Cutler Heights Business Park.

Mr Taylor said: “Building a development of this size doesn’t come without its challenges but we are incredibly proud of what’s been achieved, and of the direct impact we’ve had on job creation in Bradford.

“We have a huge emotional attachment to Yorkshire and are proud to be part of the region’s future.”

Each roll of ‘Springbond’ uses up to 180 recycled bottles.

It’s a design hailed by MP Judith Cummins as “significant” given the district’s mill and textile history.

She said: “Bradford is still a place that makes things - from chemicals to ceramics and tyres to textiles.”

It’s a sentiment shared by Cllr Lee who feels the district has always been the place of “forward thinkers”

She said: “It’s what this district needs.”

Princess Anne was also given a tour of Just Desserts in Shipley by MD James O’Dwyer.

The royal highness watched received a demonstration on how to ice a chocolate fudge cake before unveiling a plaque to mark her visit.

Five-year-old Annie Los and eight-year-old Maia Hodgson, the granddaughters of James and his wife Carol, presented the princess with a bouquet of flowers and a box of fresh scoundrels and raspberry franzipans.

The Just Desserts MD said: “It was an absolute honour to welcome the Princess Royal to visit our bakery today.  We are incredibly proud to build our growing business with plans to further expand into another Unit on Station Road. 

"It really is the royal icing on the cake to show HRH Princess Anne just how we’ve developed from a start-up enterprise more than 30 years ago to employing more than 25 people, serving a growing customer base in and beyond the region.”