A cadmium tungstate crystal boule enriched in 116 Cd to 82% with mass of 1868 g was grown by the low-thermal-gradient Czochralski technique. The isotopic composition of cadmium and the trace contamination of the crystal were estimated by High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass-Spectrometry. The crystal scintillators produced from the boule were subjected to characterization that included measurements of transmittance and energy resolution. A low background scintillation detector with two 116 CdWO 4 crystal scintillators (586 g and 589 g) was developed. The detector was running over 1727 h deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the INFN (Italy), which allowed to estimate the radioactive contamination of the enriched crystal scintillators. The radiopurity of a third 116 CdWO 4 sample (326 g) was tested

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Cadmium tungstate crystal scintillators enriched in 106Cd and 116Cd were\ud developed. The produced scintillators exhibit good optical and scintillation\ud properties, and a low level of radioactive contamination. Experiments to\ud search for double beta decay of 106Cd and 116Cd are in progress at the Gran\ud Sasso National Laboratories of the INFN (Italy). Prospects to further improve\ud the radiopurity of the detectors by recrystallization are discussed