Computer magnate Bill Gates could speed up the introduction of interactive digital services by Bradford-based Yorkshire Cable by upping his stake in its parent company Telewest Communications.

Mr Gates' computer empire Microsoft is expected to push for interactive services to be introduced quicker in Telewest-owned companies now he owns nearly 30 per cent of the firm.

Yorkshire Cable is behind in the race to roll out digital cable TV, a service which would pave the way for full interactivity, allowing TV viewers to carry out shopping and banking from home and provide access to the Internet from the comfort of their living room armchair.

Rival operator Cable & Wireless Communications, which operates a cable franchise in Leeds, plans to roll out digital cable services as early as July. Telewest has yet to announce a launch date.

Shares in Telewest jumped 12 per cent last week after Mr Gates increased his hold on the business. The announcement was part of a £3.1 billion deal between Microsoft and US telecoms company AT&T.

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Cable said it was too early to say what the effect of the increased ownership of Telewest by Microsoft would have. "But it gives a confidence boost to the cable industry," she added.

Telewest is currently the largest cable company in the UK, but there is speculation that the Microsoft tie-in might lead eventually to the creation of a giant "supercable" cable operator for the entire UK.

The cable television companies are behind the satellite TV firms when it comes to providing interactive services.

Fellow Bradford firm Pace Micro Technology is leading the field by providing digital set-top boxes for BSkyB which will use show the Open interactive TV service from the autumn.

Open will help a million householders set up the hi-tech home of the future which will allow them to shop from a wide range of stores on the Internet.

And when Telewest's interactive service comes on line, TV viewers will also use equipment which is made at Pace which has its headquarters in Salts Mill, Saltaire.

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