BUILDING work on a £50million business park is finally set to start this autumn - but a question mark remains over funding.

Bosses behind Burnley Bridge, which will be close to junction nine of the M65 in Hapton, said construction work on a new bridge from the motorway across the Leeds-Liverpool canal would be the first task.

Then development of the business park's buildings can then begin, possibly early next year.

The site, which is backed by East Lancashire's council bosses, could eventually support 1,600 new jobs.

James Chapman, managing director of Yorkshire-based Eshton Group, which is behind the scheme, said firms were being lined up despite a question mark over funding.

He said: "We are in advanced talks with a number of parties and could do deals in the coming months that mean we are also on site with bespoke buildings for the first occupiers at the same time as the bridge installation.

"Contrary to what some people might expect, we have found plenty of companies doing well in the area during the recession."

North West Development Agency (NWDA) funding disappeared after the organisation was axed by the Government last year.

However, £3.8million of European money, distributed via the NWDA, is still available to go towards the £50million bill.

Council chiefs have also submitted a £2.5million bid to the Government's new Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

Burnley Council chief executive Steve Rumbelow said he was 'reasonably optimistic' of securing the cash and expected to hear in the next few weeks.

He said: "Burnley Bridge is a very good site, certainly one of the best in East Lancashire.

“It is attracting a lot of enquiries from companies.”