A Malaysian cocoa manufacturers has cited the Port of Felixstowe as key reason for opening production plant in Suffolk.

Guan Chong Berhad Group are in advanced talks with Dutch firm Philips Avent about buying their former baby bottle site in Glemsford, south Suffolk, and would secure much needed jobs for the area.

A spokesperson for Guan Chong Berhad Group: "We are excited to announce that we have entered into an agreement with Philips Electronics UK Ltd to acquire its industrial site in Glemsford, Sudbury, Suffolk.

"This acquisition is in line with our group's strategy and provides a great opportunity for GCB to access the market in the United Kingdom in the future.

"In addition, the investment in the facility represents a key part of the group's vision to be a fully integrated and market-leading cocoa supplier across the globe.

"We believe that this acquisition will equip us to be a reliable supplier to customers and create job opportunities to locally skilled workforce in the post-Brexit landscape.

"The site is strategically located near the port of Felixstowe which will allow easy transportation of raw materials and cocoa derived food ingredients, while having the convenience of accessing to main roads with excellent connections to customers."

The plant closed completely earlier this year after 84 years of production. as Philips Avent moved operations to the Netherlands and Indonesia with the loss of around 425 jobs to the Sudbury area.

Guan Chong Berhad Group are due to complete on the purchase of the 18 acre Suffolk site, which includes more than 300,000sq ft of industrial space and 324 parking, by the end of October and the investment has been welcomed.

David Dukes, head of inward investment at the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "This is a real coup for the inward investment team which was set up by the LEP earlier this year, and a vindication of the new partnership- based approach we have been taking.

"It has been very gratifying to be able to convince an investor like this that we had a perfect site in a competitive location with good connectivity and excellent local skills. I am confident we will be able to attract more investment like this to Norfolk & Suffolk.

"This Malaysian company was looking to set up a production operation in the UK and exploring locations close to major container ports, including Felixstowe. This announcement follows six months of discussions and negotiations and we are delighted that it has opted to invest and create jobs here."