Electronics giant Filtronic Comtek today announced an extra 50 jobs at its Saltaire site - thanks to massive global sales of mobile phones.

The news came as the firm, which employs 750 people in three sites in Bradford, announced it had doubled its sales to £82.7 million.

The jobs will be at the firm's Waterfront headquarters in Saltaire, with another 50 jobs at its California division and in other sites around the world.

The company is at the leading edge of mobile phone technology which will allow phone users to send faxes and e-mails using their handsets.

Sister firm Filtronic Components, based in Baildon, has already taken on an extra 30 people in the last four months. Deputy chairman John Samuel said one of the firms it had acquired - LK Products - would help boost the firm's profitability through a partnership with global mobile phone firm Nokia.

The firm's half-year results also show a 14 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £5.8 million from £5.1 million last time. The company announced full-year profits of £95 million last August - which some analysts say could rise to £114 million with others predicting profits of nearly £200 million this August. Last January the company, which now employs 2,750 people world-wide, bought the private firms Filtronic Components and Filtronic Cable Communications from chairman Professor David Rhodes, pictured, which were added to the Filtronic Comtek group. This helped boost Professor Rhodes' personal wealth to an estimated £20 million.

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