A Shipley business law and health and safety consultancy has netted so much work in the South it is opening an office in Woking.

LPMS, which has picked up deals with firms across the UK for some time, has won contracts to advise firms in the flourishing South East and London. It has also seen growth at its head office, resulting in more staff.

The company gives advice on employment law and health and safety at work to firms, particularly accountants and insurance brokers.

The growth in red tape from the Government and the European Union has also led to an increased workload for the company.

Tony Hall, the firm's managing director, said: "Not only did we perceive the need to provide a more local presence to our clients in the South but our current offices now have almost twice as many staff compared to when we moved here some six years ago.

"We have faced considerable pressures of space.''

Six years ago, the company employed some 60 people but now employs well over 100.

LPMS provides the Chamber Helpline for 40 Chambers of Commerce throughout the UK, including the Chambers covering Bradford, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire.

The company handles about 50,000 calls a year but expects that amount to rise with the ever-increasing number of rules and regulations emerging from Government and European legislation.

Mr Hall added: "In the past 18 months or so we have seen a dramatic rise in the number of new obligations affecting employers of all sizes from minimum wage regulations, the working time directive, the introduction of family friendly policies and now new rules in terms of trade union recognition and so on.

"The health and safety legislative scene also continues to grow and the schemes we provide to ensure compliance are in much greater demand than ever before."