SUFFOLK business received a much-needed boost today with the expansion of two Ipswich companies.A new B&Q Warehouse at Ransomes Europark, which has created 80 full and part-time jobs, opened today The warehouse replaces the old B&Q Superstore in Grafton Way that closed down yesterday.

SUFFOLK business received a much-needed boost today with the expansion of two Ipswich companies.

A new B&Q Warehouse at Ransomes Europark, which has created 80 full and part-time jobs, opened today

The warehouse replaces the old B&Q Superstore in Grafton Way that closed down yesterday.

All of the 140 workers that had been based there will move to the new warehouse along with the 80 new employees, making a total of 220 staff.

The existing B&Q Warehouse at Anglia Parkway, South Bury Road, Ipswich, is not affected by any of the changes and will operate as normal.

Today's opening at Ransomes Europark was due to be conducted by general manager, Alan Jones and the store's oldest employee, 73-year-old Jack Roberts.

Mr Jones said: "I would like to thank the staff for all their hard work and commitment in opening the new store and we have all been really looking forward to the opening."

This creation of 80 jobs comes after a miserable 2003 for jobs in the Ipswich area.

Last year started badly with 686 TXU Energi staff losing their jobs and in June 200 jobs went at Agilent on the Whitehouse industrial area. In December it was announced that up to 240 people from the More Th>n insurance company would be made unemployed by the end of this year.

Another Ipswich-based company is also expanding their operation. Holden Timber Engineering, based in the Eastways Industrial Park, has constructed an 8,000 sqft factory with modern offices to "enable them to further cope with demand".

The company, which currently employs 12 people, built the factory at a cost of £400,000 to build roof trusses and they believe their production will be increased by 30 per cent. They have also recently invested £140,000 on new equipment including a computerised saw and a purpose built lorry.

At the launch of their new factory they also raised £750 for MacMillan Cancer Relief by holding a raffle and collecting donations.

The company started in 1999 with only three people and Kevin Anderson, managing director of the company, was delighted with the firm's expansion.

He said: "We have gone from being on the docks in a beaten old building to something that looks like a professional outfit."