A DERELICT factory could soon be given a new lease of life by a mystery buyer, who is understood to be about to complete a £650,000 deal.

The Camus plant, adjacent to the A1 at Brompton-on-Swale, in North Yorkshire, has been empty for years.

Horses were the most recent occupants - albeit without the owner's consent.

However, Leeds agents Weatheralls yesterday confirmed contracts have been exchanged with a buyer and completion is expected within the next few weeks.

"I can confirm there were two interested parties bidding for the site and the factory has been acquired by one of them. However, I am not at liberty to say which one until the deal is complete," said a Weatheralls spokeswoman.

As many as 100 people were employed at the plant when it was owned by Cadbury, which used the factory to manufacture Smash - the dried mashed potato mix, sold in television adverts by metal Martians.

There has been no official word on how many people the new owners would be looking to employ, although it is rumoured to be as high as 40.

"We have not been told officially who is moving in but it is good news, whoever it is," said Jim Fryer, who lives nearby and serves on Richmondshire District Council, which administers the area.

"I got a lot of flak when I resisted the idea of houses on the site but, if that had gone ahead, we would have lost an industrial site forever.

"I know the building is an eyesore at the moment - and has been for some time - but at least it seems we can now look forward to some new jobs in the district," he said.