A PROPERTY expert has praised East Lancashire as a place to do business after two industrial units in the area went on the market for a total of more than £5million.

A facility in Edward Street, Nelson, is being sold with a £3.5million price tag, and the news comes as the former Karrimor building, in Clayton- le-Moors, was sold to a firm moving into Lancashire, for almost £2million.

Today a partner at property specialists Knight Frank, who is handling the deals, said it showed a rising interest in East Lancashire as a place to do business. Dean Young said: "East Lancashire is continuing to attract interest from large companies, which can see the benefits of the location, the availability of a local workforce and the competitive prices."

The property in Nelson is being sold on behalf of paper based packaging company Smurfit, and the Karrimor building has been bought by Tonrose, a firm which imports and distributes fine linens.