BUILDING work will start next week on a £2million business park in Nelson which will create 100 jobs.

And the scheme is already proving successful with two companies in advanced negotiations to sign up for the site.

North Valley Forge is building a 60,000 sq ft estate on land between the M65 and the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Reedyford.

The company hopes it will be joined at the new site by Lund Engineering and Keighley Double Glazing and Conservatories

A spokesman for North Valley, which makes wrought iron products, said there has been a great deal of interest in the Nelson site.

He said: "Two companies are in the final stages of negotiations and there has been tremendous interest in the other unit.

"Because we want the site to be prestigious and because of the beauty of the site the reaction has been unbelievable."

North Valley hopes to be in the new park early next year. The company will occupy half the land by merging its existing Colne sites in Whitewell Estate and Greenfield Road.

The company, which will also increase it own operations fourfold, forecast at least 100 jobs will be created on the former landfill site.

Previous plans for developing the site included a car showroom and industrial use.

Jim Wyld, managing director of Lund Engineering, said the company only learned of the business park two weeks ago, and negotiations about a 5,000 sq ft unit have moved quickly.

He said: "We consider it to be a very attractive site in a good location with good access to the motorway."