Investment of £3m in two industrial estates in Hartlepool has attracted more than forty new businesses to the area and created over 200 jobs.

The Longhill and Sandgate Industrial Estates have undergone major improvements, with the first phase of the programme almost complete and five more in the pipeline.

Funded by Hartlepool New Deal for Communities (NDC), the Longhill and Sandgate Improvement Scheme has spent £1.3m on the estate over the last two years.

A further £900,000 of private investment and £800,000 of European and local authority money has also been pumped into the area. Angela Quain, Longhill's business liaison manager said: "We are seeing real economic changes in the area after two years of working hard on physical improvements and business support.

"As well as business investment, we have seen crime fall dramatically and improvements in the environment through Hartlepool Borough Council joining forces with the Environment Agency and the Fire Brigade."

Phase one included the development of Belle Business Park.

Colin Rafferty, managing director of the Sofabed Shop, on the Longhill Industrial Estate, and owner of Belle Business Park, said improvements have included grants to secure premises with CCTV, roller shutters and alarms.

He said: "Having owned premises in Longhill since 1989, the NDC scheme has been the best thing that has ever happened to the estate."