Britain is set to get its teeth into eccles cakes thanks to a Bradford business which is aiming to increase its production of the sweet treats from 140,000 to 250,000 a week.

Harden Fine Foods has signed a deal with the UK's largest processor and packer of dried fruit, Whitworths, to make the cakes and sell them across the country.

Andrew Higgins, managing director of Harden, said: "We've invested massively in new equipment for the eccles cake production line and we're already producing 140,000 eccles cakes a week.

"We see the potential to build production up to the quarter of a million mark or more."

Expansion at Harden, which is based on Spencer Road, has seen staff numbers rise over the past 12 months from 30 to 70.

The current deal is expected to see employment levels at the firm rise a further 50 per cent over the next six months.

Harden, which was taken over by a management buy-out in 1998, has seen its turnover quadruple in the past four years.

Funding for Harden's expansion came from Yorkshire Fund Managers (YFM).

Anne Blanden from YFM added: "It's good news that Mr Higgins is having such success with his eccles cakes.

"Taking a wider perspective it's worth emphasising that we're keen to back people like Mr Higgins who have the will and the drive to grow their own business."