Firms are being given a chance to grow their sales world-wide at a rapid pace at the north's biggest cybervillage - to be set up in Bradford.

Legend Internet, on Sunbridge Road, is investing £100,000 in creating the Legend Cybervillage which will be a one-stop shop for small and large firms wanting to make a start with Internet trading or improve their Net knowledge. It will be the biggest in the north. There is already one in Sheffield and London has a number.

The idea came over from the USA where the first cybervillages were started after the success of cybercafes where people can have a snack as they surf the Net.

The firm is turning the ground floor of its four-storey building, at the junction with Grattan Road, into the cybervillage.

It will house 20 computers connected to the Internet and provide a support team who will be on hand to advise firms wanting to use the equipment.

There will also be television screens showing world news and share prices and giving financial information. Also, companies will have all they need to carry out business including Internet access, desks and phones.

The Legend Cybervillage is due to open on August 1 and firms will also be able to buy a virtualised Internet own-brand CD-Rom which allows users to access the Internet going through the company's own site.

Frank Fallows, Legend's Business Development Man-ager, said: "This will be the biggest cybervillage in the north and will give firms a chance to make a start on the Net or improve what they are already doing.

"It will provide them with the equipment they need to trade on the Internet and give them back-up from the team we have in place at Legend.

"We are setting up the cybervillage to offer a host of services to firms, giving a cross-pollenation of Internet skills and knowledge. There will be web designers, Internet solution consultants, tailor-made software solution consultants and a wide range of Internet services."

Legend was started in 1995 by business partners Andrew Hawksworth and Nigel Wadsworth to provide quality Internet services.

They used the top floor of their current building and over the years have taken over more space. The firm, which also has corporate Internet contracts with firms such as Shoeworld, Green Flag and Active 8, now employs 12 staff and has 10,000 dial-up accounts. The company also manages computer equipment for other firms and has 100 "hosted servers" in the building.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.