A North Yorkshire garage is set to move up a gear after its site is redeveloped.

Three new jobs will be created after family-owned Boroughbridge Auto Services, Boroughbridge, completes a total redevelopment of its landmark site which will include upgrading its servicing facilities, and creating a new reception area and customer car park.

The new jobs will entail two in the service centre and workshop and one in the offices.

The redevelopment is being carried out by Thirsk-based integrated design build company, Severfield Projects, a subsidiary of Severfield-Rowen plc. The 1,890 sq ft garage development, which will be finished in the autumn, includes ground floor offices, a new high-tech garage workshop and ground and first-floor storage areas.

Brian and Janet Bastiman, who have run the garage at the well-known site of the former Marklands Garage since 1985, say they embarked on the redevelopment to extend and improve their service to local motorists.

When it re-opens, Boroughbridge Auto Services, which will be temporarily located at Boroughbridge Garden Centre, Langthorpe, during the redevelopment, will have an upgraded 4x4 service bay, improved tyre and exhaust facilities and will be carrying out MoT Testing for the first time in its 17-year history.

Brian Bastiman said: "We are delighted at how we have progressed and we have a loyal customer base, but these are changing times, with higher customer expectations and we are undertaking this redevelopment to meet them in every way we can in a highly-competitive business environment.

The garage's site once belonged to John Smith's brewery and was a wartime transport depot for the armed forces.

Updated: 09:51 Tuesday, August 27, 2002