STAFF and bosses at an industrial estate are celebrating after a multi-million pound flood alleviation scheme was passed, which will secure 850 jobs and could lead to the creation of 1,050 more.

Bosses at Dalton Industrial Estate, near Thirsk said the plan would enable firms including structural steel specialist Severfield, Cleveland Steel and Tubes and Wagg pet foods to guarantee 24-hour 365-day-a-year deliveries from the site, which has regularly suffered from flooding at its main entrance.

The frequent deluges on the estate's gateway from the A168 have deterred numerous businesses from locating at the estate, which is close to both the A19 and A1(M).

The firms on the estate have offered to contribute £1m towards raising the road 2.4m above the existing road and replacing the narrow sandstone bridge leading to the business park to enable the estimated 500 vehicles an hour which use the road from the A168.

It is hoped the cost of the scheme, estimated at up to £3.3m, will also attract external grants, alongside funding from the Environment Agency and Hambleton and North Yorkshire councils.

It is understood the works are likely to see 250 jobs created as firms based on the estate are able to extend their contracts and a 40 further acres developed on the estate, while a further 800 jobs could be created by expanding the estate into Dalton Airfield.

The planning approval by Hambleton District Council comes just days after highways officials reopened the gateway following Storm Desmond, which led to Cod Beck bursting its banks and truckers facing 30-minute diversions along the A19 to reach the estate.

Nearby villages suffer congestion as the lorries negotiate lanes as they attempt to make deliveries.

Councillor Peter Bardon told Hambleton planners many staff on the estate had to be ferried over the water to their workplaces during floods.

He added: "There are numerous firms who would like to relocate to Dalton, but we can't give them reassurances that their vehicles will be able to get in and out of the industrial estate, which is unacceptable in this day and age."

Roy Fishwick, of the estate’s steering group, said businesses were both relieved and delighted that the long-awaited scheme, work on which is expected to start in the spring, appeared to be progressing well, with detailed designs being prepared.