A revolutionary set-top box developed by Saltaire firm Pace Micro Technology has been awarded a Millennium Product award.

Prime Minister Tony Blair was presenting the firm with the award in London today.

The firm's chief executive, Malcolm Miller, technology director Andy Trott and engineering director Tim Fern were at the event.

The company is one of 10 from Yorkshire and the Humber out of 235 to be named as winners in the fifth and final round of the Design Council awards. A total of 1,012 awards have been made.

During the year eight other firms from the Bradford area have been handed Millennium Product awards.

They are Shipley firms Don Whitley Scientific, which has won two, Techceram, Cleckheaton firm Ferno, Keighley company Snugpak and Bradford companies Latronic, J Wood & Sons and Lindapter International.

Skipton firm TeacherBoards has also won an award for its Literary Presenters which have been designed to help teachers with their Literacy Hour presentation to pupils.

The Pace box uses a DOCSIS modem which works 100 times faster than the conventional telephone modem.

The box is currently used for the Cable & Wireless digital cable service which includes a wide range of television channels and interactive services including access to online shopping, e-mail and the Internet.

It will be used by Yorkshire Cable customers when Telewest - the firm's parent company - rolls out its digital cable service in the summer.

Malcolm Miller, chief executive, said: "Pace is playing a critical role in driving digital TV in the UK, where we are the only supplier of set-top boxes for every digital broadcaster.

"This position is built on worldwide experience. Our leadership in Europe and across the world is impressive."

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