A King's Lynn depot which closed because of possible environmental and health and safety concerns has reopened, creating the potential for new jobs in the area.

Pace Fuelcare, which supplies fuels and lubricants to domestic, agricultural and commercial customers across England, shut its King's Lynn depot 18 months ago so the site could be brought up to industry standards.

But general manager Simon Willis said the £1.5m investment at the premises in Estuary Road, Edward Benefer Way had now taken it beyond the expected standards.

'The biggest amount of money was spent on the removal of the old antiquated equipment to clear the site and put in new equipment,' he said.

That meant the old tall tanks were replaced with more aesthetically-pleasing low-level tanks.

Mr Willis also said petrol was no longer stored at the site and that £100,000 had been spent on new offices.

While the site was being refurbished, work previously done on the site was done in King's Lynn was completed elsewhere in places such as Norwich and Sudbury.

However the reopening of the Estuary Way premises means those jobs will now return to the town.

Some of the 24 people now working at King's Lynn are also new employees, with Mr Willis adding that he hoped to be able to expand the driving and sales teams.

North-West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham and West Norfolk Mayor Elizabeth Watson visited the depot to meet staff and cut the ribbon at the reopening ceremony.

Mr Bellingham said: 'On behalf of the constituency, I can say this is very good news indeed.

'We want inward investment and new companies coming into West Norfolk but we also want existing companies to expand.

'It sends a really strong signal about investing in the community and the workforce. Hopefully as firms expand, it will encourage other firms to come to King's Lynn.

'I hope this reopening shows we have a bright future here in West Norfolk.'

Mrs Watson added that it was a 'good news story' for King's Lynn.

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