A firm which has been based in Easingwold for more than 100 years hopes to be one of the first companies to move on to the town's new industrial estate.

The town's mayor has called on the estate's owners to step up its marketing campaign to make sure the Stillington Road site is up and running as soon as possible.

Bannister's Seeds, an agricultural seed merchant, hopes to move into a half-acre site on the industrial estate by the autumn.

It will mark an expansion for the company, owned by Duncan Hardie, which currently operates from rented premises in Stillington Road.

Under the development, a new warehouse and distribution centre would be built and three new jobs created.

Mr Hardie said the business estate was long overdue.

He said: "We have been looking for three years for a suitable site. The biggest problem in Easingwold is that there hasn't been anything available until now."

Easingwold mayor Geoff Ellis said site owners Galtres Heritage York needed to launch a publicity drive to attract more businesses to the park.

He said: "There are people in the area interested in pursuing an interest on this site."

And he urged firms to come forward to bring the estate to life.

He said: "I'd like to see some companies move on to the site before the end of the year, so by the turn of the century the industrial site is up and running.

"It would give an economic boost to the town."

Peter Hill, technical manager for Galtres Heritage York, said negotiations were taking place with a variety of firms interested in moving into the development.

He said he could not name the companies until negotiations were complete.

But he added: "I am confident there will be businesses there this year."

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