MORE than 100 jobs have been created with the opening of a new business park in Blackpool.

A new Pizza Hut restaurant, Blockbuster video store and KFC restaurant and drive-through have been built on the former newspaper office site at the corner of Preston New Road and Cherry Tree Road North. The site is now called Cornelian Way.

The newly-designed, 154-seater Pizza Hut opened on October 1, with the creation of 55 new jobs.

The restaurant provides both takeaway and dine-in facilities, including six high chairs.

Other family-oriented facilities at the new Pizza Hut include a baby-changing area and an ice-cream factory for children. Children also get a fun toy, currently from the Silly Science collection, with their kids' meal.

The Pizza Hut restaurant is open from 11.30am to 11pm Monday to Thursday, 11.30am to midnight, Friday and Saturday, and 12 noon to 11pm on Sunday.

The new KFC drive-through and restaurant -- the only KFC drive-through in Blackpool -- opened on Monday.

The restaurant has seating for 100 diners and hopes to employ 50 people. Around 35 had been recruited by the opening day this week.

Sue Parker, who co-owns the restaurant with her brothers Ian and Andy Atkinson, said that the restaurant had been busy on the opening, said: "We are very excited about the opening.

"We've got two other stores in Blackpool, but this is our first drive-through. All the staff are buzzing. It's something new."

The new KFC is open from 11am to 11pm throughout the week and to 11.30pm on Friday and Saturday.

The neighbouring Blockbuster video store is also due to open soon. Details of the opening date and the number of new jobs were unavailable at the time of going to press.