WORTHING is set to become the Silicon Valley of the South with the creation of up to 400 new hi-tech jobs, it was announced today.

The news of a multi-million pound investment in the town's future comes just weeks after it was named the most profitable town in Britain - for the second year in a row.

A London property developer has bought the empty Columbia House in Durrington for £2 million and plans to spend hundreds of thousands turning it into a centre for technology businesses.

Delight

Business leaders today expressed their delight at yet another shot in the arm for Worthing's booming economy.

Coun Simon Craghill, vice-chairman of Worthing Borough Council's economic development and marketing committee, said: "We welcome this significant investment in Worthing.

"It is exactly the type of investment that Worthing needs so that it can maintain its position as the most profitable town in the country and build on its reputation of being the Silicon Valley of the South East."

Dawnay Day Property Management will refurbish Columbia House to bring it into line with modern industry standards.

The 40,000 sq ft building, former UK home to the Nissan Motor Company, has laid empty for two years and is seen as something of a blot on the economic landscape.

Coun Craghill added: "By having these firms in the same building they will develop stronger links with each other, giving the local hi-tech economy greater cohesion.

"It can only be good for the town to be in this position just at the start of the 21st Century. These really are the businesses of the future."

Elsewhere in West Sussex the news was not so good today. Almost 80 workers at Littlehampton swimwear manufacturer Curtis Clothing learned they are to lose their jobs after the company went into receivership.

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