A business park that will create jobs and generate wealth has been opened in the Yorkshire Dales.

The 2.2 acre site on the outskirts of Hawes, in Wensleydale, has been developed by Richmondshire District Council, North Yorkshire County Council and Yorkshire Forward.

Councillor John Blackie, leader of the district council and member for Hawes and High Abbotside, helped to secure European funding for the project and welcomed people to the opening yesterday.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity of showing people the wonderful facilities that are available at the park," he said.

"The site is fully serviced, the units have been finished to the highest specifications and there is plenty of parking.

"Added to this is some of the most spectacular scenery in the country on the doorstep, which makes it an ideal choice for anyone wanting to relocate to the area or start up a new business."

A number of businesses have already rented office units from the district council and offers for some of the plots of land have been accepted.

John Gibson, chairman of the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes, was invited to open the site.

He said: "It gives me great pleasure to open the Upper Wensleydale Business Park, which I hope will attract plenty of new businesses to the town. The success of an initiative like this also has a much wider impact on the economic and social prosperity of the whole area."

Also present at the opening ceremony were representatives from Yorkshire Forward, the Upper Wensleydale Business Association, Business Solutions Bedale and the local strategic partnership.

The opening of the business park in Hawes follows on from the creation of the Dales Centre in Reeth, Swaledale.

Twelve craft units in the centre are managed by the district council and let to small businesses.

Plans for a £1.5m managed workspace development on Colburn Business Park have recently been approved.

The scheme will provide 16 units designed to attract digital, high-tech and e-commerce businesses.

The centre should be completed and open for business by the end of next year.