A BURY ST EDMUNDS company is providing vital support for the World Cup television coverage.Vinten Broadcast at Western Way has made many of the tripods supporting the TV cameras as they capture every kick and spit from the tournament.

A BURY ST EDMUNDS company is providing vital support for the World Cup television coverage.

Vinten Broadcast at Western Way has made many of the tripods supporting the TV cameras as they capture every kick and spit from the tournament.

The company, which was founded nearly 100 years ago in London by William Vinten and moved to the town in the late 1980s, specialises in making support equipment for professional broadcasters and for corporate and industrial use.

“This year it's been great for us,” said Peter Harman, marketing manager at the firm.

The firm makes stable bases for the heavy equipment, and has found that orders to buy or rent its products have soared.

“It's not unusual for us to be selected to cover these major events. We are pretty much the standard product worldwide for broadcast. Whenever these large events come along, there's always a surge in either bought or rental,” he said.

Another factor was the use of high definition television equipment at the event, he said.

“You have got much longer, larger lenses, so you need a much more stable base for the camera,” he said.

With eight outside broadcast trucks covering events at the 12 World Cup stadiums, the company estimates it has got around 200 pieces of its equipment out in Germany.

“Because of the demand, we have had to bring in resources from the US,” said Mr Harman.

“It's exceptional. We had a very good year last year and with the take-up of high definition, there has been more of a take-up of the product.”

He added: “Pretty much the majority of the images you see on TV are supported by our equipment.”

The Vinten family remains involved in the business, although shareholder Bill Vinten, the son of the founder, is now retired and living in Bury St Edmunds.