Two Bradford-based technology companies have been named among the fastest growing in the north at a prestigious awards ceremony.

Eclipse Legal Systems, of Little Germany, and CCL Computers, which is based in Tong, both featured in the league table of the top 50 companies which was unveiled at a ceremony in Manchester last night.

They were among just 14 Yorkshire-based businesses named in the Deloitte & Touche Northern Technology Fast 50 awards, dubbed the Oscars of the hi-tech industry.

Eclipse Legal Systems came 33rd in the league table with a growth rate of 62 per cent over the three years from 2000 to 2003, and CCL Computers was ranked 39th with growth of 44 per cent.

Darren Smith, financial director at CCL, said he was delighted the firm, which sells computer hardware, had been named in the top 50. It is the fourth year in a row that CCL, which employs around 100 staff, has been featured in the awards.

Mr Smith said: "This is a real achievement for us because most of the firms in the top 50 are in the internet, technology or software sector, whereas we are a more traditional computer firm supplier and that has not been a particularly big growth area recently."

Rob Seldon, Deloitte partner in Leeds, said that, despite the downturn in the sector, there had been a very high level of nominations and the number of Yorkshire companies was marginally up on last year.

"It is not surprising, however, that growth rates were significantly lower this year than we have seen in previous years," he said. "This reflects the overall trend within the technology sector."

The overall Fast 50 winner for the north was Liverpool-based Network Partners, with a growth rate of 2,543 per cent. The company now goes on to compete for a national ranking, along with a place in the European Technology Fast 50.