A Bradford call centre has won praise for its commitment to "work-life balance" after being named one of the best companies in the UK to work for.

Loop Customer Management, based in Thornbury, has been named in the Sunday Times' "100 best companies to work for" league table for the third year running.

And the call centre, owned by Bradford-based Kelda Group, also secured the top honour for its work-life balance policies.

Loop, which handles customer service calls from its sister company Yorkshire Water as well as a host of other firms and organisations such as the National Blood Service, was ranked number 80 in the overall league table, to be published in the Sunday Times this weekend. The firm also featured in the "family friendly index".

Managing director Alan Harrison said the study reflected the firm's commitment to work-life balance issues and its efforts to ensure a good working environment.

"Over recent years we have consistently shown that our policies, which are very firmly geared towards both staff and working practices, are a real benefit to everyone who works here," he said.

"The last year has been excellent, seeing us named as the customer service contact centre of the year in the National Customer Service Awards, and we also gained the judges' special award at the European Call Centre Awards - both great achievements."

He said the firm tried to attract and maintain a diverse workforce. It offers a range of incentives like pensions and share save schemes, adoption and fostering leave, grandparents' leave and term-time working.

Human resources manager Peri Thomas said: "We have many strengths but our true differential is our people and they need to know that."

Of the Loop staff questioned, 77 per cent were happy with their work-life balance, the second highest in the survey. Loop was also praised for its maternity benefits which include 18 weeks on full pay, significantly higher than the statutory levels. Parents can also choose to work solely in term time.

Ilkley's Betty's tearooms was the only other local business to feature in the top 100 - in at number 43.