A DEAL has been signed to ensure the start on a multi-million pound Darlington business park to rival anything else in the North-East. It could create as many as 2,000 jobs.

The regional development agency, One North-East has committed itself to the project at Morton Palms in conjunction with Darlington council.

It was given outline planning approval by the authority, which owns the land, in February.

The Secretary of State for the Environment approved the plan in March.

Since then the agency and council have worked out details of the deal, which was settled this week.

When the scheme was first mooted, One North-East said it would be a jewel in the crown for Tees Valley.

A council spokesman said the project would be launched with more than £5m of funding from One North-East and other sources. It was hoped to attract another £17m from the private sector. "One North-East will be responsible for the infrastructure such as roads and landscaping, and that will start in the autumn," said the spokesman.

"Early next year, the council will start marketing the 28-acre site, which will have around 12 plots.

"They will be out to attract developers, who will apply for individual planning permissions for their sites."

Coun John Williams, Darlington council leader and deputy chairman of One North-East, said: "This is great news for the town.

"We will have a business park to rival any in the North-East which will bring investment to Darlington, creating jobs and opportunities for local people."