Improvements to the catering areas at Tong Garden Centre has created 35 jobs for local people.

The refurbishment of the 132-seater Orchard restaurant is the latest phase of an ambitious programme of improvements implemented since the centre was acquired by businessmen Mark Farnsworth and Tom Megginson last May.

The refurbishment also benefitted the local economy as all of the work was undertaken by West Yorkshire-based businesses. The restaurant's tray bakes, scones and quiche are made on site in the state-of-the-art William's Farm Kitchen bakery and 90% of the remaining suppliers to the restaurant are Yorkshire based.

Mark Farnsworth said: "Since we acquired the business in May, we have created 45 new jobs, including 35 in the catering team that services the Orchard Restaurant, the new Coffee Shop and Grasshoppers Adventure Playground café and we have increased the number of catering covers from 100 to 308.

"To celebrate the refurbishment, and to build on the £5,000 that we raised for Martin House Children's Hospice throughout the summer, we will donate 50p from the sale of every Christmas dinner bought in the Orchard Restaurant to this very worthy cause."

The new owners have also remerchandised the plant area, created a new café and food hall, built a children's adventure playground and café, introduced concessions and refurbished all areas.

Mr Farnsworth concluded: "In years gone by, Tong was an iconic garden centre in the North of England and we intend to return it to that status and really broaden the appeal of the centre. The changes that we have made, including the much improved catering facilities, will help us really put Tong back on the map."

The centre, occupying a 17-acre site in Tong village, is one of Yorkshire's biggest garden centres with 110,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 1,000 cars.