A Bradford boss has urged the Government to do more to help trade with China following a political row over the issue.

Bill Holdsworth, managing director of D B Holdsworth, says the Government should "do a better public relations job to present Britain in a better light to help bring in contracts".

His firm, based in Mount Street, has been trading with China for years. The company sells wool to the Chinese who export cashmere back to Britain through the firm.

His comments follow a war of words between Shadow Trade Secretary John Redwood and International Development Secretary Clare Short.

The row followed Ms Short telling ITV's Dimbleby programme on Sunday that officials asked her to raise the issue of UK companies looking for business in China while she was on a visit there, but she declined. "I don't consider it my duty,'' she said.

John Redwood hit back saying: "Contracts and jobs that could have come to Britain may now go elsewhere.''

Today Mr Holdsworth said: "The Government does not give enough of an impression of being willing to co-operate with the Chinese Government.

"I do not think it is the Government's job to get contracts for firms such as mine, but they should help to get the major contracts for such things as building hospitals.

"If they presented the UK in a better light it would help bring in contracts.''

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