SHAREHOLDERS of the firm which provided motion capture for hit movies Doctor Strange and Fantastic Beasts are eyeing a magical return.

Annual revenue at Osney Mead-based Oxford Metrics Group plc rose 15 per cent to £29.5m, while profits increased 14 per cent to reach £5.6m for the year ended September 30.

During the past two years, £16.8m has been returned to shareholders in dividends.

Chief executive Nick Bolton said: “It was a cracking year in 2016.”

OMG subsidiary Vicon, which accounted for £20.4m of group turnover, saw revenue jump by 19 per cent.

As well as Doctor Strange and Fantastic Beasts, its motion capture was used for blockbusters Iron Man and the Pirates of the Caribbean, video games such as FIFA 17 and a new Royal Shakespeare Company production of The Tempest.

Mr Bolton said the firm’s work in this sector often led to breakthroughs in others, benefiting clients in the medical, engineering and public sectors.

Its software is also used to help cerebral palsy and stroke victims in hospitals, including at Oxford’s Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.

He explained: “Innovations created for entertainment customers often end up being used at hospitals.

“There’s a strong societal side to what we do, in that can be used to help children with cerebral palsy or stroke victims and our team enjoy that, as well as the fun working in the video game and movie industries.”

Another area showing growth is Yotta which provides software to help with infrastructure ‘mapping’ for the Highways Agency and a number of local authorities around the UK.

Revenue for the year was up five per cent to £9.1m and there are plans to expand, particularly in Australia.

The software group, based in Minns Business Park near Botley Road, has offices in Los Angeles and Denver.

It also announced a five-year plan to double profits by 2021.

Mr Bolton said: “It’s ambitious but realistic.

“We know these markets well already and have customers there.

“Either we will grow our market share, or grow the markets we are in.”

In May, the Group announced it would spin out a venture developed by OMG Life with Oxford University’s engineering department to create new firm Pimloc, with Oxford Metrics taking a 27 per cent stake

Mr Bolton confirmed the Group intends to stay in the area.

He added: “We are rather proud of our roots and Oxford is a wonderful global brand.”