BUSINESS units in a complex which honours North Yorkshire swimming star Nicola Jackson have been snapped up.

The Richmond 17-year-old swam for Britain at the 2000 Olympics and won a gold at the World Championships last year to become one of the county's most successful sports stars for years.

Council chiefs have announced that all five units at Jackson Court have been taken up well ahead of schedule. They had only expected 40 per cent occupancy by the end of this year.

Business tenants include robotics demolition company, Gnat International; surface graphic imaging company, Digital Markings; furniture retailer, Peter J & R Oliviers, which is using the unit for storage; and hand and power tools specialist, Alan Wadkins Ltd, which has taken two units.

Leader of Richmondshire District Council, John Blackie, said: "Achieving 100 per cent occupancy of the industrial units so soon after their opening is a clear indication of the development's appeal. The units are of high quality and represent good value for money."

There has also been significant interest in neigbouring Mowbray House - named after and opened by Richmond's Olympic rower, Alison Mowbray, last November.

Partek, which specialises in partition walling, and Link-Way Pipelines has already moved in.