York is busy forging new transatlantic business links, targeting 1,200 high-tech companies in Denver with the backing of the US city's mayor.

Mayor Wellington E Webb has added a letter of introduction to the approach from the York Inward investment Board to businesses in the Colorado corporate centre.

The plan is to persuade more US firms looking for a base in Europe to make York their centre of operations, bringing partnerships with the city's companies and university, as well as extra investment and jobs.

The board's chief executive, Paul Murphy, said: "York has been looking for the right kind of US partner in order to develop mutually beneficial links.

"Denver offers us the ideal opportunity, and we hope this mailshot will lead to an increased level of business contacts between the two cities." Its marketing manager, Dave Taylor, explained the link, first announced in August, was mainly based on the strong science sector of the two economies, with York targeting Denver companies in the bioscience and e-science - including IT and Internet-based businesses.

Other similarities between the cities were their central positions in their respective countries and their efforts to develop alternative solutions to transport problems.