A Bradford home-shopping company is to create 200 jobs in a state-of-the-art call centre.

Redcats has carried out a major redevelopment of its Canal Road headquarters to create the centre.

Director of human resources Marsha Greene-Jones said today the jobs boom was because of increased demand by customers wanting to order from catalogues, particularly during the evenings and weekends.

Mrs Greene-Jones said: "We are looking for local people to employ as we believe we should represent the community."

Today Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton welcomed the jobs boost as another sign the district was on the rise.

"I am absolutely delighted and I wish them well," she said. "It is really good news.

"People in Bradford have excellent call-centre training and skills.

"I am sure the company is going to find some very good staff.

"This is yet another indication that Bradford is on the up and up."

President of Bradford Chamber of Commerce John Pennington said: "I am pleased the company is expanding in Bradford rather than elsewhere."

The Redcats group is a member of the French Pinault-Printemps-Redoute Group and manages mail-order brands including Empire Stores, La Redoute, Vert Baudet, The Store, and Daxon in Britain.

It employs about 950 people in the city.

It is based in Bradford and Wakefield.

The Wakefield call centre is currently being refurbished.

An open day for job applicants will be held in Bradford and its two Wakefield headquarters and the company will hold a display in the Kirkgate Centre, Bradford, on Fridays, June 20 and June 27.

Redcats operates in 18 countries across Europe, America and Asia, employing 21,000 people and publishing 20 different catalogue titles.

It operates 100 stores and has 42 on-line shopping sites.

There are a total of 2,800 employees in the company's Bradford and Wakefield offices.

The company has set up a jobs hotline 0500 444 333 for people to ring for more information.