YET another firm has been lured to York - this time from Leeds - and the organisations which attracted it are feeling triumphant.

Unusually named LG01, a high-tech data consultancy, has moved out of Leeds and into Tower House in the Fishergate Centre, marking time until it can find room at the York Innovation Centre on the Science Park next to the University of York.

The four-man organisation provides business intelligence and advice to Canadian communications giant Nortel, which supplies the sub-Atlantic fibreoptic cable links between Britain and North America.

It also markets through its subsidiary branch, CoSORT UK, data manipulation and interpretation software as well as designing tailor-made programmes for specific corporate projects.

Now it is gearing up to expand its payroll to eight before the end of the year.

All four of the joint partners were lured by York's growing reputation as a high-tech science city.

It's yet another triumph for the York Inward Investment Board following a recent spate of new firms setting up shop in the city, many of them from the US.

They include global payment card processors Total Systems Services of Columbia, Georgia, which has bought Fulford House, York, as a UK base with an immediate prospect of 55 jobs; Illinois-based paint company Williams Hayward Protective Coatings and Autopatch, of Washington State, both of which have moved into Tower Court, Clifton Moor.

David Taylor, the board's marketing manager, said: "We're on a roll. It is gratifying to see how high-technology firms view York as a business location - not only for its good reputation in the technological field, but also because they know they will never have a problem attracting prospective clients to visit them."

LG01 has also received a big welcome from Anna Rooke, manager of Science City York, who pointed out that the firm was joining "a growing community of 260 high-tech companies in the city."

The four partners met in Leeds when they were working for US data consultancy firm Polk, formerly GMAP, supplying business intelligence to the motor industry, including Ford, Toyota and Jaguar. They worked out of a basement office. Then they broke free to form their own intelligence outfit.

Partner Robin Whyte said: "Our name recalls the fact that our original office was on the lower ground floor, room number one."

Like fellow partner Graeme Neath, Mr Whyte lives at Bishopthorpe, so is familiar with the technological strength of York. Tony Ward lives at Ellerton, near Hull, and Richard Cleary lives in Leeds.

"We are really excited at the prospect of moving to the Innovation Centre. It is big enough for eight people, but possibly in November even larger units may become available there and we shall see then if we have outgrown the maximum.

"Just the knowledge that all around us would be good seedcorn - potential future clients marketing their high tech knowledge - is inspiring."