A WIRRAL garden centre has opened a new restaurant and created 20 jobs as part of a multi-million pound expansion project.

Carr Farm Garden Centre in Meols has opened its new 300-seat Atrium Restaurant as part of a £3 million redevelopment. Twenty new jobs have been created with the opening.

The Carr Farm site has been owned by the Jones family since the 1930s. The original site was run as a small dairy farm.

This expanded to include a farm shop and a small garden nursery. Carr Farm Garden Centre was established in 1982.

At that time the dairy operation ceased and the family concentrated on the Farm Shop and Garden Centre.

The three-year redevelopment project will see new shops and concession stands created on the site, and create up to 75 new jobs across the site.

Dave Jones, managing director, said: "The development is an exciting project that will enhance the business and allow us to develop more retail space.

"The new restaurant is a fantastic addition for visitors, who may be here for an afternoon of shopping."

The development was supported with funding from Natwest.

Dave said: "We started banking with NatWest when we opened the garden centre, worked with another bank for a time and then came back to NatWest as we valued the service we were given."

Simon Webb, director of business development at NatWest Merseyside said:  said: "I was delighted to support Carr Farm Garden Centre on this funding arrangement.

"It's a great family-run business that has an excellent growth plan which will support the local area. I wish the business every success for the future."