A new factory in Stonehouse has been given the go-ahead by planners, and will create 55 extra jobs in the area.

Gloucestershire-based Dairy Partners has received full approval from Stroud District Council to begin building a new factory and head office at its site on Stroudwater Business Park.

The company applied for planning permission earlier this year to boost production of its products.

It will now build three new production lines in a 7,000 square metre facility, doubling the size of the factory which will, the company says, create 55 jobs in the process.

Will Bennett, co-director of Dairy Partners, said: "This factory expansion is part of a £25 million investment on our part to double the output of mozzarella and pizza cheese that we manufacture here in Stonehouse and at our site in Wales."

Another co-director, Robert Peel, added: “In these plans we are not only looking to recruit more staff, but we are securing jobs for those who already work for us and investing in the environment we offer them.

"90% of our workforce is from the local area.

“We are fully committed to growing our business in the UK.

"We only work with UK milk, which is farmed by British farmers from our herds in Wales.

"Our success in growing export sales means that we are taking our produce to worldwide markets and doing our bit to fly the flag for British export.”