A business which started from a garage in Eccleshill and recruits exclusively from the long-term unemployed is enjoying phenomenal growth.

Fernlee Industries was formed three years ago by former social worker and teacher Paul Meer with the help of a £12,500 Royds Community Association grant.

Last year the company, which provides house cleaning, refurbishment and security services, had a turnover of just under £1m.

The firm, which employs 45 people in Bradford, all of who were previously out of work, is now setting up branches and recruiting nationwide after being bought up by property protection giant Orbis.

Mr Meer, 52, said: "It is hard to believe how quickly we are growing now - it's at a rate of around 375 per cent a week, and we aim to employ 120 people by the end of the year.

"All of this has been achieved with Bradford people, many of them already with some skills and desperate to work, but who had just never been given a chance.''

Mr Meer added: ''Now is a good time, particularly after recent events, to show Bradford in a good light."

One of the areas in which Fernlee specialises is quickly revamping 'unwanted' or boarded up properties and making them secure, often working with local authorities.

Now the business is linking up with Bradford Council's Employment Link team to create a course which gives local unemployed people the range of skills the company is looking for.

The idea, as the authority's investor and supply chain project manager James Murgatroyd explained, is to ensure trainees finish a course with a real job in sight.

"What we hope to do between us is make local people more employable while reducing the risks for employers who decide to take them on," said Mr Murgatroyd.

"Fernlee is a fantastic little company and expanding really well, so we have great hopes for this scheme."