Around 50 jobs are expected to be created over the next two years following the opening of a 60,000 square foot expansion costing £3.5 million at Marks and Spencer's distribution centre in Mallusk, just north of Belfast. The company employs 250 full-time and part-time employees at the 180,000 square foot centre, which opened in 1985, and is one of 15 similar facilities across the UK. It handles the distribution of foods and general merchandise to Marks and Spencer's operation throughout Ireland.

A spokesman for the company said the expansion had been necessary in order to keep pace with the growth of the M&S business in the Irish market.

SPRINGVALE Business Park in Belfast is being extended to provide additional sites for inward investment and for local company projects supported by Northern Ireland's two job promotions agencies, the IDB and LEDU. The expansion is being made possible by the acquisition by the IDB of nine acres of land adjacent to the existing business park. The land is part of a 28 acre site belonging to the timber importers and builders merchants, the J.P. Corry Group.