A RESTAURANT refurbishment has created 35 jobs for local people at a Bradford garden centre which was taken over in a multi-million pound deal in May.

Improvements to the 132 seater Orchard restaurant at Tong Garden Centre is the latest part of an ambitious programme of work that has been implemented since the centre was acquired by business partners Mark Farnsworth and Tom Megginson .

In addition to the new restaurant jobs, the refurbishment also benefitted the local economy as all of the work was undertaken by West Yorkshire based businesses.

The restaurant's tray bakes, scones and quiche are made on site in the state of the art William's Farm Kitchen bakery and 90 per cent of the remaining suppliers to the restaurant are Yorkshire based.

Mark Farnsworth said: "Since we acquired the business in May, we have created 45 new jobs, including 35 in the catering team that services the Orchard Restaurant, the new coffee shop and Grasshoppers Adventure Playground café and we have increased the number of catering covers from 100 to 308.

"To celebrate the refurbishment, and to build on the £5,000 that we raised for Martin House Children's Hospice throughout the summer, we will donate 50p from the sale of every Christmas dinner bought in the Orchard Restaurant to this very worthy cause."

Changes made by TGC's new owners have included reorganising the plant area, a new café and food hall, a new children's adventure playground and café and refurbishment of the garden centre areas.

The due, both East Yorkshire-based businessmen, promised a 'dramatic' increase in employment at the 17-acre site in Tong Village which had around 140 staff when they bought it from long-standing owner Ron Harker.

Mr Farnsworth added : "In years gone by, Tong was an iconic garden centre in the North of England and we intend to return it to that status and really broaden the appeal of the centre. The changes that we have made, including the much improved catering facilities, will help us really put Tong back on the map."

It is one of Yorkshire's biggest garden centres with 110,000 sq ft of retail space and parking for up to 1,000 cars.

In September tourism chief Sir Gary Verity cut a ribbon to mark the relaunch of Tong Garden Centre

He said: “I was delighted to open Tong Garden Centre and meet the fantastic team of dedicated staff who are working tirelessly to turn it not only into a great place to shop and buy Yorkshire produce, but also into a great tourist attraction for the region.”