Ambulance crews in the north-east will be among the best-dressed in the country, thanks to a Bradford clothing firm.

Staff at Initial Garment Manufacturing are celebrating today after the firm clinched the £500,000 contract.

The deal means Initial, based in Leagrams Lane, will be responsible for kitting-out all 1,000 members of the crew in the region.

The contract includes the design and manufacture of 53 different styles of uniform.

The firm, which has been based in Bradford for 68 years, is now an established specialist in the provision of ambulance clothing - supplying 14 of the biggest regional crews in the UK.

Ronnie Moir, major accounts manager at Initial, today said the three-year contract was a 'major boost' to the company.

"We are now a very prominent firm in the ambulance service sector with more than 10,0000 workers throughout the UK, including those in West Yorkshire" he said. "It is all about our experience and the quality factor. Every ambulance crew member you see out on the road will have kit that has been designed and produced here in Bradford."

Mr Moir said the company, which produces specialist clothing for a range of industries, has now got a good reputation among ambulance crews in the country.

The new paramedic uniforms are made using specialist material known as Comfortec, designed to be warm inside yet hard-wearing on the outside.

Simon Featherstone, chief executive of the North East Ambulance Service, said the Bradford firm fitted the specification perfectly for the service's new kit.

"Although the uniforms are a new style for many of our staff, they are specially designed to cope with the different kinds of work that our staff do," he said.

"The new uniforms will also be visible evidence of the unity created by the recent merger of our service."