Firms across West Yorkshire are being offered a chance to find out how to cut red tape when trading with the continent.

A special business briefing has been organised by Bradford Council's Euro Info Centre (EIC) and the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce to help steer businesses through complex European legislation.

The free event is open to all local companies and will be held at the Chamber's Wakefield office on Thursday.

In the UK, the Government has set up a specialist department, Action Single Market (ASM), to help companies who run into difficulties when trading with other EC member states.

At a regional level, businesses also have access to a service designed to give direct feedback on trading problems to the EC, the Business Feedback Mechanism (BFM).

The BFM is a confidential service operated by 41 Euro Info Centres across the continent.

Councillor Simon Cooke, Bradford Council's Executive Member for the Economy, said: "Companies must find European red tape mind boggling, but there is help available from a number of sources.

"This event has been arranged to help firms find out more about these services with the aim of improving their trade with Europe."

The event will take place from noon to 2pm and include a buffet lunch. For information and registration details, contact EIC on Bradford (01274) 754262 or Mid Yorkshire Chamber on (01484) 438800.