One of the region's leading hi-tech firms is to create around 100 skilled jobs in the next 12 months when it moves to a £6 million headquarters.

Eldon Technology, which has offices in Bingley and Keighley, is to move to a new 43,000 sq ft building at the Millennium Business Park in Steeton.

And the growth of the firm, which designs electronics for use in digital and satellite televisions and set top boxes, was today hailed as a major boost to the district's economy.

Eldon managing director Paul Daly said the move should enable the firm to almost double its existing workforce of 123.

The relocation follows the firm's rapid expansion since it was bought by American satellite broadcaster EchoStar Communications in 1999.

Mr Daly said the firm had benefited from the growing US market and the success of the new BBC Freeview digital platform, which has boosted demand in Europe and the Far East.

"Since the company was formed in 1988 we have steadily grown at roughly 20 per cent per year in terms of our staff numbers," said Mr Daly. "We see this as our next move towards becoming one of the leading design houses in Europe."

He added the firm had never made any redundancies or suffered a significant slump in business. It aims to double last year's revenue of £6 million as a result of the expansion.

"We don't believe that this move is a gamble," he said. "We have expanded on our current sites to the point where we cannot grow any more. In a sense, we have left this move to the last minute."

The sale of the 3.75 acre site which will house the new building marks the completion of the Steeton business park, which is also home to J Wild Confectioners and The Factory Shop Group.

Mr Daly said Eldon was keen to stay in the district, home to one of its major customers Pace Microtechnology, because of its strong skills base in the field.

He said: "This area is very rich in electronics experts, be it manufacturing or design. It is a very good location for recruitment and being this close to the Yorkshire Dales it is a very nice place to work."

Councillor Simon Cooke, Bradford Council's executive member for the economy, said he was pleased to learn of the company's expansion plans.

"There is still a lot to do in terms of encouraging hi-technology firms to the Aire Valley but this is the kind of message we want to send out," he said. "It is not just the large number of jobs involved here but the fact that they are hi-tech and highly skilled jobs."