A COUNTY Durham science park has announced expansion plans which would create more than 10,000 jobs and make the region a global leader in high tech innovation.

Durham County Council wants to triple the size of Netpark at Sedgefield, and attract some of the sharpest scientific minds to develop life-changing products.

The park was opened 10 years ago by then Prime Minister and local MP Tony Blair and is already home to businesses that have developed breakthrough innovations - such as a mask that can cure diabetic blindness, and security scanners which protect ports and airports from terror threats.

Dr Simon Goon, managing director of Business Durham, who is spearheading the project with Durham University and the Centre for Process Innovation, said that by 2025 the park will host an additional 200 companies on council-owned land to the north of the existing site.

The expansion would create about 3,500 new jobs on the park and an additional 7,500 at local manufacturers and suppliers.

In addition, Netpark plans to host its own University Technical College and launch an apprenticeship programme to train the next generation of technicians.

The proposals could lead to an on-site hotel, conference centre, crèche, gym and shop to create a self-contained creative hub that will forge links with similar sites around the world.

The Government is said to be very excited by the plans which will require public and private sector funding to make them a reality.

Last month the county council approved £12.9m spending to improve Netpark’s services, such as utility supplies, broadband and roads, ahead of a phased expansion plan.