A former pie factory in Greater Manchester is being turned into new studios for independent television companies and will be the first building to open at the location for Salford's new MediaCity.

The Freshbake factory " now called The Pie Factory " at Salford Quays includes 50,000 sq ft of sound stages and 20,000 sq ft of office space and has already been used by firms such as Hat Trick Productions, reports the Salford Advertiser.

A joint venture between northwest entrepreneur Andy Sumner and developer Peel Holdings, the factory will be joined by several BBC departments and hundreds of other media organisations in a few years.

Mr Sumner, who owns Manchester-based post-production firm Sumner's, told the newspaper: "We're actually on the site now and MediaCity will grow around us. The major developer Peel wanted to get something going before the BBC even arrives and there are lots of companies wanting to come to the pie factory.

"MediaCity is going to employ thousands of people and the place will become a media centre for the whole of the UK, if not Europe and the world. It's going to be a fundamental development for Salford."

The team behind Salford Quay's MediaCity have said the development will bring £1.5 billion to the regional economy and 15,500 jobs.