A HIGH-TECH tie-up between two East Lancashire firms will mean clients can access vital information at any time, anywhere in the world, via the information super-highway.

Cad-Capture, which holds information on computer databases for a range of major industrial customers, has bought the assets and business of Airtime Internet Resources for an undisclosed sum.

The move will allow Cad-Capture to use the latest internet technology to give customers high-speed broadband internet access to its vast library of information. Customers could use hand-held computers, for example, to access documents in even the most remote areas.

Established in 1994, Airtime is a internet service provider to businesses. The firm and five staff will move from its premises on Whitebirk Industrial Estate, Blackburn, to Cad-Capture's premises in Greenbank Technology Park in the town. Other staff will move to associated Airtime businesses. Cad-Capture employs 50 people.

Cad-Capture's managing director Simon Watts said: "We provide a document management service where we take old documents, plans and drawings, for example, and scan them into an electronic format, enhance them and publish them on computer systems.

"We also develop software and systems.

"With the acquisition of Airtime we will move further into e-business and develop our e-commerce ability so customers can buy services online.

"We could have gone out and bought the technology but rather than doing that we decided to buy a company that does that already.

"Our clients will be able to access any document they need online anywhere in the world.

"We will be keeping the Airtime name and that business will grow dramatically on its own.

"I believe there is an exciting future ahead. The long term development and delivery of services to business is increasingly being focused on internet technology."

Picture: Capture MD Simon Watts (left) and Airtime Internet Resources MD Brian Welsby.