A manufacturing firm has completed a £2.25 million investment programme to bring its operations under one roof.

George Barker & Company has built an 8,000 square metre warehouse extension to its premises in Highfield Road, Idle, Bradford.

The firm, which develops refrigeration systems for the country's leading retailers, has made the move to reduce transport overheads and carbon footprint.

The extension was opened by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Robin Owens.

The investment in the site follows a £700,000 manufacturing tooling investment programme last year. Tony Callaghan, operations director at George Barker & Company, said: "Sustainability has played a key role in this project from an environmental and community-based perspective. The strategy behind this major investment in our facilities was to reduce overall vehicle movements across our site by bringing together operations under one roof.

"This will reduce our carbon footprint and enhance efficiencies for the business.

"The extension will also support our ambitious plans for business growth, which creates sustainable employment opportunities within the region and key investment within our local community."

George Barker & Company counts Bradford-based Morrisons, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury and the Co-op among its clients. The firm is owned by the Epta Group which bought George Baker in 1999 and operates throughout Europe.

Epta's product marketing director, John Austin-Davies, said: "At the moment all warehousing is off-site in Hunslet, Leeds, which means a lot of our trucks are going backwards and forwards - meaning high environmental costs. This will reduce vehicle movement dramatically."

The work was carried out by Pudsey contractor Jack Lunn whose managing director Stephen Bradbury suggested that expansion was symptomatic of a pattern of renaissance in Bradford.

Mr Bradbury said: "Bradford continues its renaissance as a true business destination, providing excellent opportunities for regional and national organisations to establish themselves within a highly dynamic and cosmopolitan city.

"Major investment in the city's infrastructure and the commencement of a number of high profile developments suggests that Bradford will be challenging other major regional conurbations as the business destination of choice."