Work has started on a new Liverpool Science Park innovation centre which will include 10,000 sq ft of laboratory space.

On the day that the first phase of the science park was officially opened (October 25th), work began on a new £8 million, 40,000 sq ft centre.

Innovation Centre II, which will provide specialist accommodation to new businesses in the science and technology sectors, will also allow existing science park businesses to expand.

Dr Sarah Tasker, chief executive of Liverpool Science Park, said both innovation centres will help grow the city's knowledge economy by retaining local knowledge-based companies and attracting new firms from outside the northwest.

"Our second phase of development means that we are on-track to create a world-class innovation hub in Liverpool's city centre," she added.

Liverpool Science Park has already attracted small and large businesses from the creative, biomedical sciences and digital sectors, such as Neat 3d, Northwest Chemicals and First Solution Technologies.