REGENERATION leaders last night welcomed the start of work on a multi-million pound business park.

It is hoped that a number of major investors will fill the site at Morton Palms, on the southern outskirts of Darlington, and create 2,000 jobs.

The £1.5m infrastructure is being jointly funded by One NorthEast and Darlington Borough Council, which has been earmarked in the local plan for employment purposes.

As work began, Darlington MP Alan Milburn said: "Darlington is a great place to do business. Morton Palms will help bring jobs and investment to the town.

"It builds on the success at Yarm Road."

The 28-acre, fully serviced site is next to the A66 on the southern outskirts of the town, and minutes from Teesside International Airport, Darlington railway station and the A1 and A66 motorways.

Big names to have invested in the rapidly developing area of town in recent years include Orange, Morrison's, Darlington Building Society and B&Q.

Mr Milburn was joined at the site by borough council leader Councillor John Williams, the authority's chief executive Barry Keel, and Alistair Arkley, a board member of One NorthEast.

Coun Williams, who is also vice-chairman of One NorthEast, said: "The new business park will have good links to the motorway network, the main line railway station and Teesside International Airport.

"It is an ideal location for inward investors and it will create job opportunities for local people and be a real asset to the town."

Mr Arkley, chairman of the Tees Valley Partnership, added: "Darlington is seen as the gateway to the Tees Valley and this important investment at Morton Palms is an integral part of our vision for the area as a whole.