Thermal clothing giant Damart has launched a new sports range with fabric hailed as the warmest in the world.

The Bingley company, which has a £70 million turnover, has come up with a fabric which creates a 'thermolactyl charge' between the skin and the garment.

This creates a positive static charge that helps trap a layer of air - insulating the body.

Damart has signed up several athletes and sporting personalities to help it advertise the new range.

Bradford Bulls and New Zealand rugby star Robbie Paul is just one of the big names lending support to the venture.

Others include England's Commonwealth Games hockey captain Sarah Blanks and British Olympic speed skater Sarah Lindsay.

Damart's sports fabric, which was tested over a two year period by Bradford Bulls staff, even received a boon from the Institute of Textile de France, which concluded that Damart thermolactyl fabric is the warmest fabric, natural or man made, in the world.

The Damart Sport range will initially be sold through the firm's website and sports club shops.

John Bottomley, marketing director for Damart Sport, said: "The introduction of Damart Sport sees Damart responding to the needs of our customers.

"We have been approached by numerous people enquiring about sports clothing over the last few years and this has resulted in the introduction of the new Damart Sport range.

"Damart Sport is a research-based product which meets the needs of the modern athlete.

"It allows athletes to concentrate on their chosen sport and not the weather. It really does give modern athletes the edge that they are looking for."