WORK on a £1.4 m extension to Thirsk Industrial Park has started, with 30 companies already expressing interest in moving on to the development.

The 12.5 acre expansion is phase three in the development of the industrial park, which started in 1981 on York Road, and will see the site grow by 50pc in size.

Hambleton District Council is developing the land in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and English Partnerships, with £343,000 of European funding.

Chairman of the district council's economic development sub-committee, Coun Peter Brown, said: "It will not only provide space for expanding local businesses, but bring in new business - and new jobs, some of which will be high tech."

"Thirsk industrial park is already known as a great location for business. This expansion will ensure that it continues to be a success."

He added that when selling the plots, the council will be looking to encourage manufacturing and high tech jobs, help local firms to develop and grow and maximise employment opportunities for local people.

The laying of roads and drains on the expansion site is expected to be completed in December, but construction of the factories and offices, starting with those bordering York Road, will begin before then.

As a result this will lead to some disruption to traffic, but the district council aims to keep this to a minimum.

The project has been made possible because industrial land and buildings can be bought using the council's £3.3m economic development fund, with money from the land sales returned for further purchases