ECONOMIC development chiefs in York have announced a £45,000 investment in the city's growing science sector.

They hope the cash injection will generate up to £200,000 from Europe and local partners.

City of York Council assistant director (economic development) Tony Bennett said the city was now one of the country's main centres for science and technology.

"The projections for growth in the science sector in Europe are excellent and the United Kingdom is second only to America for science," he said. "We believe York can play an important part in that growth and be a major force in the science sector in the UK. We have got 1,500 bioscientists already working in the area and this has provided a catalyst for future growth in the city."

The cash would help science companies in York by assisting their research and development activities.

The award is part of the council's economic development programme for 1998/99.

Also included are proposals to invest an extra £54,000 in the Future Prospects Outreach Team to support the unemployed. Another £22,000 has been earmarked to bring the unemployed back into the building trade.

The programme also provides for the development of the First Stop York tourism initiative, Bioscience York and business support services.

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