THE long-term future of a horticultural research centre near Selby has been secured.

Bosses at Cawood's Stockbridge Technology Centre announced that the Government had agreed to sell them the entire site and all its facilities.

The centre closed on March 31 of this year as part of rationalisation plans by Horticulture Research International - but started trading again in April under the name of Stockbridge Technology Centre (STC).

Now, the independent STC will be able to tender bids for research and development projects testing pesticides, crop varieties and growing systems for growers throughout the UK.

Updated: 09:23 Thursday, November 01, 2001