Snugpak's Darren Burrell, left, with minister Andrew Robathan

A Government minister visited a Yorkshire factory which is one of the few in Britain still making outdoor gear.

Armed Forced Minister Andrew Robathan toured Snugpak’s Silsden factory to see the manufacture of the firm’s sleeping bags and insulated clothing.

The company has been making sleeping bags for more than 30 years and has expanded its range to include products such as gloves, tents, rucksacks and jackets.

The West Yorkshire company supplies a range of gear to military customers in the UK, USA, Australia and a number of European countries.

Snugpak is the only British company still producing performance synthetic-filled clothing and sleeping bags in the UK for the military and outdoor markets.

Its team of about 50 employees uses a combination of computer-controlled quilting machinery and hand-sewing techniques, and operates at the Grade II listed woollen mill based in the town the company was founded in during the 1970s.

A former soldier in the Coldstream Guards and the SAS, Mr Robathan said: “I can see plenty of activity and people in employment who are producing what other people want.

“There’s not much cotton made in Lancashire anymore, or wool in Yorkshire, but here I can see a lot of adaptation to changing circumstances.”

Darren Burrell, Snugpak’s sales director, said: “It was a real privilege to host the minister at our factory and show him Snugpak’s manufacturing process.

“We have been creating outstanding products for the military and outdoor markets for over 30 years and pride ourselves on our quality and how quickly we can react to demand, so it was great to demonstrate this to the minister and other visitors on the day.

“I think they were most impressed by our innovation and the level of craftsmanship shown by our staff.”

Local MP Kris Hopkins, who accompanied the minister, said: “I know Snugpak is a great company, and the minister actually has one of their rucksacks in his work locker.”