HI-TECH motoring firm Anthony Best Dynamics has been promised £2.3 million of government cash to help it move to a new factory and create jobs.

But the Regional Growth Fund cash will only be there if the Bradford on Avon firm meets conditions on using it to create jobs – and the government survives the election.

The funding was announced today when Wiltshire MP Duncan Hames and Transport Minister Baroness Kramer visited the company, which builds testing systems for car manufacturers, including Toyota, Honda and Mercedes-Benz.

Its systems test brakes, steering and suspension.

Tony Best, 77, who founded the Holt Road firm in 1982, said: “In all honesty I never thought the company would get to where it is now, when I started it was a one man band from my home.

“It has been quite a ride but we have an excellent team here and absolutely I’m proud of the company.”

The cash, paid in stages up to 2017, will help the firm move to a new home 400 yards down the road.

Mr Best said it could create 50 jobs.

Managing director Tim Rogers added: “I’m very pleased, it’s Government funding so it is a conditional offer but for us it’s very good as it will go towards helping us with our new factory which is part of our long term plan.

“Duncan Hames has been very supportive, it’s amazing as he wrote a letter of support for us which you never know might have helped.

“It’s just brilliant, this company is so strong in engineering and I don’t think many people realise that and it is definitely a local success story.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who set up the RGF in 2010, said: “I think the proof is in the pudding about how crucial this money will be for regional businesses because of the amount of jobs that have already been created or safeguarded.

“This was not a whimsical decision that was made lightly, I know Duncan Hames is very keen that regional businesses should grow in Wiltshire and I have setup a business panel to ensure that sensible decisions are made.

“AB Dynamics is obviously a great company who supply very advanced testing systems and I think it’s very important that a company like AB Dynamics receive this funding as they are one of those cutting edge businesses that I want to see more of.

“I’m delighted for them and the 50 people they will employ or jobs they will safeguard because of this funding.”

Mr Clegg denied that the funding had anything to do with MP Hames being in a target seat heading into this year’s May general election and is hopefully that, regardless of the outcome, the funding for the RGF will continue.

“I think the RGF has been really successful, it started off slow but it’s now firing on all cylinders,” added Mr Clegg.

“I very much hope that the general election won’t have an effect on this money, I want to see the RGF continue and I hope that whoever is in power follows it on.”